MADRID, Feb. 14 — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has some difficult decisions to make ahead of his side’s trip to Pamplona to play Osasuna on Saturday. The match comes a week after Madrid was held 1-1 by Atletico Madrid in the derby and four days after a 3-2 win away to Manchester City gave them a foot in the last-16 of the Champions League. The return leg against Manchester City is in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next Wednesday and although Real Madrid is clear favorite to qualify, Ancelotti will know that for all their defensive problems, City still has the players to cause them problems. Real Madrid also has injury problems, with Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal all sidelined. Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio performed well in central defense in Manchester, while Federico Valverde was effective at right back, but no outfield player has played more minutes than Valverde this season and with over 3,000 minutes of football in his legs. The Uruguayan needs a rest, but Ancelotti said on Friday that he would play in Pamplona. “He will continue until Lucas (Vazquez) returns. He gives us a lot and I liked his performance against City and he will continue,” commented the coach. Ancelotti must also be tempted to avoid risking Ferland Mendy, with Fran Garcia stepping in at left back, while either Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, or Kylian Mbappe could start Saturday’s match on the bench, although, with his club only one point ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, he has a balancing act to carry out. “This team knows very well when it has to apply pressure and tomorrow… The league is very close and if we don’t understand that tomorrow is vital, we will make a mistake,” said Ancelotti. Osasuna has central defender, Flavien Enzo Boyomo suspended, but striker Ante Budimir will be a threat to Madrid’s defense after the Croatian has scored 12 league goals this season.
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