Real Madrid rested Toni Kroos and Luka Modric and still had enough to beat Osasuna and keep up the pace on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.
They had to sweat for the 2-0 victory, and no-one more than Eden Hazard who started brightly but faded badly and had just been substituted when Zinedine Zidane’s team finally took the lead on 76 minutes.
There was more collateral damage from the victory with Raphael Varane taken off at half time with a muscle problem in his right leg making him a doubt for Wednesday against Chelsea.
Madrid are now two points behind leaders Atletico and three clear of Barcelona who play Valencia on Sunday night.
Chimy Avila started his first game since January 2020 for Osasuna. Real Madrid had Kroos, Modric and Nacho – all expected to start against Chelsea – on the bench, but started Hazard just behind Karim Benzema and he started well.
First there was a shot that went high and wide and then he reached the byline but went for goal instead of crossing. Sergio Herrera saved the shot and Vinicius miskicked the rebound.
Casemiro almost caught Herrera out with a shot from his own half and Courtois was caught out at the other end by an over-hit back pass from man of the match Eder Militao that sent the Belgian keeper scrambling back to his own goal to clear. Courtois had more work to do a moment later when Avila’s pass sent Manu Sanchez down the left and Courtois had to claw his deflected cross out from under his crossbar.
Hazard came alive on the 25-minute mark. First there was a touch of genius on the touchline with a back-heeled pass that sent Asensio clear. Then he volleyed Marcelo’s cross into the ground and saw it tipped over the bar by Herrera.
On the 70-minute mark Hazard was off. The early promise had come to nothing and the most positive thing to come out of the game for him was that he had negotiated 70 minutes without physical problems.
His exit coincided with Madrid taking the lead. The man who had replaced him, Isco, sent in a pinpoint corner and Militao headed past Herrera. The Brazilian defender had been Madrid’s best player and deserved his goal.
Having waited so long for the first, the second came along almost immediately. Benzema played the ball through to Casemiro and with his first touch he inadvertently rolled the ball past Herrera. Madrid could breathe easy. Benzema almost made it three but Herrera saved his shot.
A 3-0 would have been harsh on Osasuna but they were well beaten by a Madrid team still dreaming of a league and Champions League double.
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