Real Madrid: Four big stars set to rest against Osasuna

Real Madrid will have to make some rotations this weekend against Osasuna in La Liga, even though this is actually a must-win game. Barcelona’s loss to Granada on Thursday should galvanize Madridistas, because it is a significant boost in their title hopes.

But Real must take care of their business by winning every single remaining game. There are some very difficult matches remaining – including a clash with fellow title contenders Sevilla, a match against the team that knocked off Barça this week, a trip to San Mames, and a season-closing match against Villarreal. So relatively speaking, this upcoming home game against Osasuna is easy.

In a vacuum, however, it is not easy. No La Liga match is easy. Real Madrid struggle against tough defensive sides in La Liga’s midtable, and they have recently drawn Getafe and Real Betis 0-0. Earlier this year, they drew Osasuna 0-0 in Pamplona. And that this game is sandwiched in between two matches against Chelsea does not make things easier.

The Chelse matches are the reason why Real Madrid must rotate. And they are already missing key players like Sergio Ramos, Fede Valverde, and Ferland Mendy. Dani Carvajal recently suffered a season-ending injury.

Real Madrid will need several backups to step up

According to a report from Onda Cero, Fernando Burgos stated that Karim Benzema, Raphael Varane, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos will all be rotated out of the starting XI on Saturday night against Osasuna.

The quartet is in the squad, so if it is true that Zinedine Zidane will rest them, which we have every reason to believe will be the case with Chelsea coming up, then they could be called off the bench. Remember, Zidane brought Benzema off the bench against Getafe a couple of weeks ago, and he did the same with Kroos and Modric last month against Elche.

Real Madrid need players like Isco and Antonio Blanco, whom Burgos states will start on Matchday 34, to step up. And still others must rise to the occasion. Benzema is the big absence, considering he contributed to all four of the goals Real has scored in their last five games, which has been a real dry stretch for the wingers.

Varane, Modric, Kroos, and Benzema are big stars expected to miss this weekend’s clash vs. Osasuna. But there is one big name who could make his first start in a long time. Eden Hazard seems ready to be in the XI in preparation for Wednesday night’s must-win Champions League fixture at Stamford Bridge.