Liga Preview: Osasuna-Real Madrid

Spanish champions Real Madrid take their "galacticos" to Pamplona today for the clash with surprise package Osasuna knowing their ever-shaky defence is under more scrutiny than ever.

Coach Carlos Quieroz – formerly a virtual unknown in Spanish football – is now a marked man in the Spanish media who have declared his honeymoon period comprehensively over after the 4-1 Andalucian capitulation in Seville a fortnight ago.

Many in the Spanish press accuse the Portuguese coach of being unaware of the strengths of his players after some incongruous team selections saw recognised centre half Pavon in a full back role, and young rookie Ruben sacrificed and substituted after just 25 minutes in the debacle in Seville. Many observers felt that this undiplomatic scapegoating of the debutant was unfitting of a Real Madrid coach and threatened to destroy the player's already shattered confidence.

Certainly, the sight of a tearful Ruben on the bench after just half an hour of the biggest day of his career was hard to stomach for anybody possessing a touch of fair play.

The invisible Zidane, for example, remained on the pitch despite letting the young players down with an ineffective performance that underlined why some see the Frenchman as an over-rated mood player rather than the greatest of his generation.

Anybody who watched Juventus regularly in Zidane's time will readily testify to the fact that he has been easily replaced by Pavel Nedved since his move to Madrid. While undoubtedly gifted and inspirational, Zidane is prone to bouts of disappearance when the going gets tough.

One superstar who at least rolled up his sleeves and showed some spirit for the losing battle in Seville was Luis Figo. Despite being skinned by the prodigious young Reyes, Figo made his presence felt even though he was having an evening to forget.

David Beckham too is prepared to take the fight, but Ronaldo, Raul, and the aforementioned Zidane seem unwilling or unable to take moral control of the Real ship when it is obvious that the Florentino Perez project has been holed beneath the bow with its ludicrous ignorance of defence.

This inability to grasp the simple fact that football is a game of both attack and defence threatens to expose "los galacticos" as pyhrric heroes. Figo and Beckham apart, some superstars had better start showing the willingness to get down and fight because their president has decided that defence is irrelevant.

Poor Iker Casillas must be withered at the amount of exposure he has been subject to, and must be tempted to wonder if soon even his position of goalkeeper isn't surplus to requirements at Real.

Tonight, Real visit an out-of-form Osasuna who have lost two and drawn one of their last three games. Having started the season brightly, it seems as if reality is now dawning in Pamplona. Having said that, Osasuna have beaten Real on their last two visits, and will be anxious to keep their season on track.

LATEST TEAM NEWS

Osasuna coach and former Mexican midfielder Javier Aguirre will look to former Everton striker Ibrahima Bakayoko and Australian international John Aloisi to test the suspect visiting defence.

Argentinian midfielder Cambiasso should bring some steel to Real's midfield. Roberto Carlos continues his recovery from injury and gains extra match fitness while Guti may remain on the bench – a casualty of the disastrous display in Seville.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Osasuna: Sanzol Gofi, Izquierdo, Cruchaga Lasa, Josetxo, Lopez, Valdo, Punal, Garcia, Webo, Aloisi, Bakayoko.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Pavon, Helguera, Cambiasso, Beckham, Figo, Zidane, Raul, Ronaldo.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid): In a team without a defence, Casillas has been in sensational form this season. And he's needed to be! In the space of 18 months, Casillas has re-established himself as Real Madrid number 1 and deposed the unfortunate Santiago Canizares as national team first choice. However, the danger for Casillas now is that continuous exposure will make him vulnerable to forwards who are presented with much greater opportunities by his pourous defence. There is only so much a goalkeeper can do. Just as Perez and Quieroz have to learn, a team cannot win with just attackers. Neither can it win with just a goalkeeper. No matter how excellent.