Match Details

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• Barcelona star suspended for LaLiga clash with Villarreal

  Barcelona defender Gerard Martín will miss Saturday’s match against Villarreal due to a yellow card suspension, forcing manager Hansi Flick to reshuffle his backline as the Catalans look to protect their La Liga lead. ​Barcelona must navigate Saturday’s home clash against Villarreal without Gerard Martín, who is serving a one-match ban after collecting his fifth yellow card against Levante. Manager Hansi Flick is expected to turn to João Cancelo at left-back, while Pau Cubarsí could return to the starting lineup. The Catalans currently sit top of the table after Real Madrid recently dropped points against Osasuna. ​Flick’s squad remains under pressure as Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé are both one booking away from suspension. While Madrid prepares for a midweek Champions League play-off against Benfica, Barcelona aims to extend their domestic lead at the Camp Nou. Club president Joan Laporta recently addressed turning down a massive Lamine Yamal bid, stating, “People thought we were crazy.”

• Alvaro Arbeloa laments referee decisions during Real Madrid defeat at Osasuna

  Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa criticized refereeing decisions and his team’s lack of speed after a 2-1 defeat to Osasuna threatened their position at the top of La Liga.

  ​Álvaro Arbeloa expressed frustration with officiating after Real Madrid’s first league defeat of 2026 at El Sadar.

  The head coach highlighted several controversial moments that went against his side, including a potential foul before Osasuna’s winner.

  He noted: “From the little I have seen, there could have been a foul in the action before (the goal). Two very fair offsides have also been against us.”

  ​Despite the grievances, Arbeloa admitted Madrid lacked the necessary pace to break down Osasuna’s defense.

  He also defended starting Kylian Mbappé, who appeared short of full fitness, stating: “When we think he is not in a condition to play, we are not going to take risks.”

  Arbeloa remains confident for Wednesday’s Champions League tie, adding: “I believe in my team.”

• Alvaro Arbeloa clarifies Valverde injury scare in Osasuna loss

  Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa revealed that Federico Valverde was substituted during the 2-1 loss to Osasuna as a precautionary measure after the midfielder reported physical discomfort.

  ​Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa has addressed the controversial decision to withdraw Federico Valverde during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at El Sadar.

  Despite providing the assist for Vinícius Júnior’s equalizer, the Uruguayan was replaced fifteen minutes before the end.

  The tactical shift appeared to backfire, as Los Blancos lost their midfield stability and subsequently conceded a 90th-minute winner to the hosts.

  ​Explaining the late substitution to reporters, Arbeloa confirmed that the decision was dictated by medical concerns rather than tactical preference.

  The manager was keen to avoid a long-term setback for one of his most consistent performers ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. Arbeloa stated: “Fede felt some pain, and I subbed him out to not take any risks.”

• Player Ratings against Osasuna: No hero for Real Madrid as Courtois 5.5 penalty highlight defeat in Osasuna

  Real Madrid suffered their inaugural La Liga setback of 2026, falling 2-1 to a resilient Osasuna side. Despite

  Álvaro Arbeloa’s men dominating long stretches of the second half, a late strike from Raúl García de Haro cancelled out Vinícius Júnior’s equalizer, following Ante Budimir’s opening penalty.

  It was a frustrating night in Pamplona that could see Real Madrid’s lead at the summit vanish.

  Real Madrid Player Ratings 

  Thibaut Courtois – 5.5

  The Belgian shot-stopper had a difficult outing, notably conceding the penalty that led to Osasuna’s opener. While the foul itself was somewhat accidental, his historical struggle to save spot-kicks was highlighted once again as Budimir sent him the wrong way.

  Dani Carvajal – 5.5

  Returning to the starting lineup for the first time since his injury in September, the veteran fullback looked understandably rusty. He lacked his usual explosive pace and was frequently troubled by the trickery of Víctor Muñoz before being substituted after the hour mark.

  Raúl Asencio – 6

  A mixed performance for the youngster. Asencio was a threat in the opposition box but squandered a golden opportunity to score in the first half. Defensively, he was solid for most of the match but lost his positioning during the scramble for Osasuna’s 90th-minute winner.

  David Alaba – 5.5

  Making only his second start of the campaign, Alaba looked off the pace. The Austrian struggled to contain the physical presence of Budimir and appeared to tire late in the game, failing to close down the space for the decisive second goal.

  Álvaro Carreras – 6.5

  The standout performer in an otherwise shaky backline. Carreras was diligent in his defensive duties, winning a high-stakes duel against Rubén García. He provided the most stability on the left side and was Madrid’s most reliable defender throughout.

  Fede Valverde – 6.5

  After a quiet opening period, Valverde burst into life after the break. His driving run and perfectly weighted pass allowed Vinícius to level the scores. Real Madrid notably lost their structural intensity once the Uruguayan was withdrawn late in the second half.

  Arda Güler – 6

  The Turkish prodigy showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the clinical edge he displayed earlier in the season. He forced a decent save in the second half but found it difficult to consistently find pockets of space between Osasuna’s disciplined defensive lines.

  Aurélien Tchouaméni – 6.5

  Tchouaméni worked tirelessly as the midfield anchor, covering significant ground to snuff out counter-attacks. However, he was often left isolated as Aimar Oroz found gaps in the transition, leaving the Frenchman with too much work to do on his own.

  Eduardo Camavinga – 6

  It was a subdued performance from the Frenchman, who struggled to influence the game in the final third. Defensively, he was caught out several times as Osasuna’s Valentín Rosier exploited the space behind him to deliver dangerous crosses.

  Kylian Mbappé – 6

  Clearly hindered by a lingering fitness issue, Mbappé was a shadow of his usual self. He had the ball in the net only to be denied by the offside flag and spent most of the match being marshalled effectively by the Osasuna center-backs.

  Vinícius Júnior – 7

  Once again, the Brazilian was the heartbeat of the Madrid attack. He took his goal with composure and was the only forward consistently threatening to break the deadlock. Despite the team’s loss, his individual performance was the solitary bright spot for the visitors.

  Substitutes

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (Carvajal, 64’) – 6

  Added some much-needed attacking impetus and crossing quality, though he faced similar defensive difficulties against Muñoz during the frantic closing stages.

  Brahim Díaz (Güler, 75’) – 6

  Introduced to provide a spark but found the Osasuna defense too compact to penetrate.

  Gonzalo García (Mbappé, 82’) – 6

  Thrown on as a late target man but failed to see enough of the ball to make a tangible impact.

  Dani Ceballos (Valverde, 82’) – 6

  Struggled to replicate Valverde’s energy as the game slipped away from Madrid in the final minutes.

• Courtois’ penalty woes highlighted again in Real Madrid’s clash with Osasuna

  Thibaut Courtois faced fresh criticism over his penalty-saving ability after Ante Budimir’s spot-kick helped Osasuna stun league leaders Real Madrid 2-1 at El Sadar.

  ​Real Madrid’s grip on the La Liga title race slipped on Saturday as Álvaro Arbeloa’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat against Osasuna.

  Despite the visitors’ ambitions to extend their lead, veteran Ante Budimir dispatched a first-half penalty following a VAR intervention.

  The strike once again turned the spotlight toward Thibaut Courtois, whose historical struggles with spot-kicks remain a notable flaw in his otherwise elite repertoire.

  ​Renowned statistician MisterChip underscored the issue, revealing Courtois has conceded 31 of the 37 penalties he has faced in La Liga.

  The Belgian ranks 66th in save percentage among goalkeepers with at least 20 attempts faced.

  MisterChip concluded: “37 penalties against Courtois in La Liga: 31 goals (84%) 1 wide 5 saved (13%)… If Courtois has a weak point, it’s clearly this one.”