Real Madrid were left out in the cold after being held to a 0-0 draw with Osasuna on a cold, snowy Saturday night at the Estadio El Sadar in Pamplona.
While the result stretched Real Madrid’s unbeaten streak in LaLiga Santander to eight matches, they did little in the way of chance creation. The wintry conditions did not aid their cause; however, it was the Osasuna defence that proved to be the biggest obstacle, limiting Los Blancos in the final third.
The big inclusion in the starting XI of coach Zinedine Zidane was Eden Hazard, who started up top with Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio. Meanwhile, Zidane favourite Lucas Vazquez slotted in at right-back for the injured Dani Carvajal.
It was tough sledding for Real Madrid in attack against a well-organised Osasuna defence. It took until the half-hour mark before a serious scoring chance was summoned and it came for Osasuna off a corner kick when Oier’s header required Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make a reaction save.
Los Blancos came out for the second half playing with urgency and a testing effort from Asensio induced a big save from Osasuna netminder Sergio Herrera.
On the hour mark Benzema thought that he had finally broken the deadlock when he turned in a shot after his initial header was blocked, but the linesman’s flag was up correctly for offside.
Zidane went to his bench for the first time shortly after, with Fede Valverde on to replace Asensio, but Osasuna were the ones with the next chance when Roberto Torres had a good look at goal, but missed well over the crossbar with his left-footed half-volley.
Next to come on were Isco and Mariano for Luka Modric and Hazard, respectively, the former clearly not happy with Zidane at being substituted off.
Real Madrid’s frustrating night was fittingly capped by a goal that did not count due to offside, followed by Ferland Mendy taking a shot off the boot of Toni Kroos and slicing it well off the mark in what was the final chance of the contest.
Match Sheet
0.- Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Aridane, David Garcia, Juan Cruz; Oier, Moncayola, Roberto Torres, Ruben Garcia Jony, min. 77), Inigo Perez, Calleri (Budimir, min. 78).
0.- Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric (Isco, min. 75); Asensio (Fede Valverde, min. 66), Hazard (Mariano, min. 75), Benzema.
Goals: None
Referee: Soto Grande (La Rioja). Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Stadium: El Sadar
Attendance: 0
