MADRID - Real Madrid has a vital game at home to Osasuna on Saturday as they look to recover confidence and form and get back into the race for the La Liga title.
A pair of consecutive home defeats - 4-0 to FC Barcelona two weeks ago and a 3-1 loss to AC Milan - have raised big questions about Carlo Ancelotti's side this season.
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Kylian Mbappe, who has been left out of the France squad for the forthcoming internationals, is struggling to adapt to a central role while Vinicius Jr continues on the left.
Madrid have looked physically flat and disorganized in midfield, with a lack of pressure high up the pitch allowing rivals to get an extra man in the middle of the pitch.
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Ancelotti saw midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni added to his injury list on Tuesday with a twisted ankle, while Federico Valverde is also doubtful with lumbago.
They join long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and David Alaba in missing Saturday's game at home to Osasuna.
With questions hanging over his side and some even questioning his future at the club, Ancelotti needs three points.
"This isn't a place to talk about the problems that we have had, because everyone has their opinion," commented Ancelotti in his pre-game press conference.
"We have to face our reality, which is that we have lost our last matches, and we have to do things differently. We think we have found the solution, but that is the theory, and we will see what happens in practice tomorrow," he added.
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Osasuna travel to Madrid fifth in La Liga after wins against Real Sociedad and Valladolid, showing they are well-organized under coach Vicente Moreno.
"They are doing well, they are well-positioned in the league, playing good football," Ancelotti noted.
Both Moreno and midfielder Ruben Garcia, who are from the area of Valencia recently affected by torrential floods, spent time this week in the region helping with the clean-up operation, but both will be at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
