La Liga Round 13: Real Madrid Scouting Joselu’s Successor, Villarreal Improving Point Collection Efficiency

As La Liga enters its 13th round of the season, Real Madrid finds itself navigating a challenging period both on and off the pitch, compounded by the quality of its recent opponents. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has been pushed to publicly express frustration over certain players' perceived entitlement, emphasizing the need for reliable, hardworking figures in the lineup. In this context, Osasuna's Croatian forward Ante Budimir has emerged as a potential candidate for Madrid’s winter transfer targets, particularly as a second option to Joselu. Meanwhile, Villarreal, free of European football commitments, has boosted its efficiency in picking up points this season, signaling noticeable improvements in league performance. Here, we dive into the specifics of Real Madrid’s ongoing challenges and Villarreal’s evolving competitiveness.

Real Madrid vs. Osasuna: Will Joselu’s Replacement Be Found?

Defending champions Real Madrid have faced formidable challenges from top opponents recently, enduring tough results that have strained the squad’s morale. The Bernabéu witnessed painful defeats to both Barcelona and AC Milan, with the away supporters mocking Madrid’s setbacks in creative ways: Barcelona fans playfully offered “half a bottle of Château Lafite,” while Milan supporters taunted the club by suggesting that Madrid might as well loan out young, unused players in the January transfer window.

Amid these disheartening losses, speculation around former manager Zinedine Zidane’s potential return has also begun to circulate, stirring further uncertainty. Madrid’s struggles this season are not limited to just defensive lapses but extend to the forward line, where inconsistency plagues their goal-scoring efforts. On days when the forwards are firing, Madrid can net four or five goals. But if the team struggles to convert, the defense often falters too, leading to disappointing results. In these instances, Madrid fans have frequently reminisced about Joselu’s dependability, particularly in decisive moments such as last season’s Champions League comeback against Bayern.

In the midweek clash with AC Milan, it was evident that Madrid lacked a physical presence in the final stages, someone like Joselu who could have potentially helped turn the tide. Lukaku has already demonstrated Milan’s vulnerability against strong center-forwards, giving Ancelotti food for thought as the winter transfer window approaches. For now, however, Madrid must first get through a critical La Liga test against Osasuna before they can start planning for reinforcements.

Osasuna’s Resilience and Ante Budimir’s Rising Profile

Osasuna enters this match against Real Madrid in strong form, having kept two consecutive clean sheets and securing their first back-to-back wins of the season—a rare achievement this year. Coming off a confident 2-0 home victory over Valladolid, Osasuna demonstrated their ability to control play without prioritizing possession, opting instead to lie deep and strike on the counterattack. Ante Budimir was pivotal in this victory, opening the scoring with a well-taken penalty in the 19th minute and later coming close to adding a second with a powerful shot that hit the post.

This performance solidified Budimir’s standing as a potential target for Real Madrid, especially if they seek a physically imposing striker akin to Joselu in January. Currently level with Kylian Mbappé on the scoring charts with six goals, Budimir has shown his ability to compete with top talent in La Liga. Given Real Madrid’s current dip in form, Budimir’s consistent performances and positional sense in the penalty box could bring a stabilizing presence to Madrid’s lineup.

Last season, Real Madrid managed to score four goals in each of their two encounters with Osasuna. But now, the club faces internal issues and a concerning lack of momentum that could impact their performance. At their best, Madrid might be able to play at 20% of their usual capability; Osasuna, meanwhile, will be eager to raise their performance to at least 10% to take advantage of the reigning champions’ struggles.

Villarreal vs. Alavés: Efficiency on the Rise for the Yellow Submarine

In contrast to Real Madrid’s current difficulties, Villarreal has flourished in La Liga this season, benefiting from a lighter schedule due to the absence of European competition. With an impressive win rate exceeding 50% across their 11 league matches so far, Villarreal is just one victory away from reaching half of last season’s total win count. Head coach Marcelino has managed to enhance Villarreal’s approach in ways that go beyond basic goal statistics. While their goals scored and conceded figures are relatively similar to this time last season, Villarreal has accumulated nine more points than they had at this stage in 2022-23, underlining Marcelino’s ability to optimize the team’s approach to securing crucial points.

Meanwhile, Alavés ended a troubling five-match losing streak in their last outing, managing a 1-0 victory over Mallorca—a team that had been performing well until then. Alavés not only secured an essential three points but also managed to extend their lead over the relegation zone to three points, a critical boost to the team’s morale. The game against Mallorca was no easy feat, however. Alavés faced significant adversity with two red cards handed to their starting center-backs in the first half, creating a chaotic situation that could have easily led to another loss. Yet, Mallorca’s frustration mounted in the second half as they made a series of aggressive substitutions, which ultimately disrupted their rhythm and allowed Alavés to claim a narrow win.

Villarreal, who saw their match against Real Madrid postponed due to weather conditions, has unexpectedly gained a ten-day rest period ahead of this fixture. Despite this break, it remains to be seen if this extra time will work in Villarreal’s favor or disrupt their competitive rhythm. Based on recent performances, Villarreal and Alavés may each approach the match with a cautious 10% of their usual offensive force, echoing last season’s close encounters.

Evaluating Ancelotti’s Options and the Future at Real Madrid

As Real Madrid grapples with squad morale issues and fan dissatisfaction, speculation over possible managerial changes has heightened. Ancelotti has faced increasing scrutiny amid calls for Zidane’s return, a prospect many fans would welcome given Zidane’s legendary status with the club. Yet, with new talent emerging in La Liga, particularly with Xabi Alonso at Real Sociedad, there’s a sense that fresh perspectives could be beneficial in Madrid’s dugout.

Ancelotti, while a seasoned and highly respected manager, has a unique opportunity to re-establish control over Madrid’s season and make the tactical adjustments necessary to bring back consistency. Before any transfer rumors solidify, however, Real Madrid must channel their focus to overcome Osasuna and find immediate stability on the field.