Ramos returns- How Real Madrid could line-up against Osasuna

10:43am on Friday 8th January 2021
By Martin Macdonald

Sergio Ramos will return to the Real Madrid starting XI for this weekend's La Liga clash against Osasuna.

The World Cup winner sat out the away victory versus Celta last weekend with a stomach illness, but is reportedly back to full fitness, while he posted pictures of himself training in the snow on Instagram - with no shirt on.

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Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has other issues to contend with in his backline, though, as Dani Carvajal will miss the Osasuna game after accumulating too many yellow cards, with his latest coming versus Celta.

That will likely mean Lucas Vazquez dropping in at right-back, which will subsequently open up a spot for someone in the forward line.

Marco Asensio scored against Celta but will probably be asked to move over to the right wing, with Vinicius Junior coming in on the left.

Rodrygo is out injured.

Depending on player fitness, Luka Modric, Casemiro, and Toni Kroos will all likely feature from the start again, though Fede Valverde is pushing to be involved also after coming off the bench at the weekend.

Another star who came on as a substitute in the Celta game was Eden Hazard.

The Belgian was given 16 minutes off the bench to boost his fitness levels, and although he is starting to reach the level required to start, he likely isn't there yet.

So, expect another cameo from the sidelines at some point.

Karim Benzema will, as always, lead the line.

There were previous doubts as to whether Zidane would be able to coach from the sidelines due to a Covid scare, but the Madrid boss has been given the all-clear to lead his team on Saturday.