Tickets for Real Madrid’s visit to Osasuna are all sold out, which is no surprise, really. You see, traveling to Iruña is one of those matches that the Whites have marked differently – they know they’re in for a hostile, tense atmosphere. But, as the saying goes, there’s no atmosphere that can’t be countered with good football. And if any team is a specialist in handling such situations, it’s Real Madrid. So, apart from the energy from the stands, Osasuna will need to bring some serious football skills to the table, skills that go beyond individual performances from players like Budimir, Aimar Oroz, Jesús Areso, or Lucas Torró. To take down Real Madrid, Vicente Moreno’s team will have to be spot on collectively and, as their coach said, show some solidarity.
But does Vicente Moreno’s team have what it takes to make the game uncomfortable for Real Madrid, beyond just the environmental factors? Well, if you thought not, you’re wrong. They’ve certainly got the arsenal, particularly when it comes to covering distance at high intensity – one of the best in the league, in fact. This is where things get interesting, as we delve into the data that supports Osasuna’s chances.
Data to Trust
The physical data from Mediacoach paints a compelling picture, one that suggests Osasuna has a fighting chance against the Whites. For instance, Osasuna’s players occupy the sixth spot in terms of distance traveled at over 24 kilometers per hour, which is no mean feat. They’re right behind Barça, Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, and Atlético de Madrid. What’s more, they surpass Ancelotti’s team in this regard, a team that relies heavily on the quality and speed of its players.
It’s worth noting that the first defeat of the season for Barça was at the hands of Osasuna, with a score of 4-2. Now, Hansi Flick’s team may lead the distance classification, but before Osasuna, they made their third-best record of the season, and they still lost. Similarly, Rayo Vallecano, the second-best team in terms of distance traveled at high intensity, had to make their second-best record in the Sadar, and they only managed a draw.
Other examples abound. On matchday 11, Osasuna won against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena with a score of 0-2. Imanol Alguacil’s team may be third in the distance classification, but on that day, they made their sixth-best record in the league, and they still couldn’t impose themselves on Osasuna. So, what can we expect tonight on the grass of El Sadar? It all comes down to intensity vs. quality and speed. Place your bets.
Anyway, it seems like Osasuna’s got this – or at least, they’ve got a good chance. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.