Osasuna v Real Madrid team news: Danilo, Modric start
Real Madrid travel north to Osasuna as they take on the relegation candidates at El Sadar and Zinedine Zidane has thrown a spanner in the works with three at the back.
Real Madrid play Osasuna at the difficult El Sadar on Saturday night and must win after Barcelona trounced Alavés earlier in the day. Real Madrid have not played for two weeks with their game called off last weekend against Celta Vigo due to storms and Zidane has thrown a crease into his tactics that could see them deploy three at the back.
Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane has selected five defenders for Real Madrid's trip to Osasuna with Ramos, Varane and Nacho along with wing-backs Marcelo and Danilo. Nacho is a versatile defender and could also be deployed on the wing with Isco occupying the other wing.
Casemiro will be tasked with manning the middle, and Isco might also be given more of a free role. Ronaldo and Benzema will likely play up front with the Frenchman possibly buoyed with news during the week that Real Madrid will offer him a new contract in the summer.
Real Madrid XI:
Navas, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Ronaldo, Benzema, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Isco, Danilo.
Osasuna
Petar Vasiljevic's side conceded three last time out during a 3-2 loss against Real Sociedad. They conceded four in a 4-3 loss to Sevilla recently and with Real Madrid coming to town, he will need to improve in their defense to keep los Blancos from blowing them out of the water early.
Emmanuele Riviere gets a start as does 26-year-old Jaime Romero. Nikola Vujadinovic makes his debut at centre-back for the club having been brought in at the end of the winter transfer window.
Osasuna XI:
Tana, Oier, Vujadinovic, Fuentes, Alex Berenguer, Fausto, Causic, romero, riviere, Sergio Leon.