Real Madrid vs. Osasuna: 5 Reasons to Pay Attention

So this is going to be a tough sell, then.  

In terms of football, Saturday’s final game of the season for Real Madrid and Osasuna—which have absolutely nothing to play for—is a dead rubber. It is a busted flush. It is a waste of time and energy. It is another Hangover sequel. It is tennis. Actually, it is worse than that. It is golf. 

The great news though is La Liga is only 10 percent about the football. The rest is gossip, scandal and general nonsense, and Real Madrid are particularly adept at this kind of funny business. So here are five solid reasons why you should tune in to Saturday afternoon’s game.  

Jose Mourinho’s Farewell 

One of the highlights of any trip to the Santiago Bernabeu of late has been listening to the crowd reaction when manager Jose Mourinho's name is called out before the game by the stadium announcer.

The weighting between the boos and jeers has been a good indication of the strength of the various fan factions within the Madridista world. In recent matches, it is the jeers that have been winning this particular boisterous battle.

With the Portuguese officially confirmed as leaving the Spanish capital, it remains to be seen if all will finally be forgiven between Mourinho and the Madrid massive, or if the departing boss will be waving goodbye to La Liga with the use of just the single finger. 

A Last Chance to Hear Aitor Karanka

When Mourinho was neither trusted to come out to speak to the media, before and after games, or simply did not fancy it, the manager’s assistant Aitor Karanka was poked before the press. The former Real Madrid footballer was the good cop to Mourinho’s sleep deprived, throw-away-the-rule book, Al Pacino-style act. 

Karanka never said anything of interest. Ever. That was pretty much the idea, though, with the entrance of Karanka causing sighs of despair from journalists hoping to be outraged by another utterance from Mourinho. If the Madrid No. 1 decides to go quietly, then Karanka might be the one chosen to wrap up the season, never to be seen again. 

Goals, Goals, Goals

Osasuna might be gritty, tough and cheerfully violent in the Reyna de Navarra, but the extent to the side’s competitiveness ends at the Pamplona city limits. The Navarre outfit have won just three matches away from home in 18 games this season, conceding twice as many goals as the side have scored.

A repeat performance of last year’s 7-1 win for Real Madrid against a team that picked up enough points last weekend to avoid relegation would not be a major surprise. 

A Farewell to Dear Friends (and Fabio Coentrao) 

As much as the papers love to natter about which footballer might be going where over the summer, it is unlikely that the same faces who play in Saturday’s clash will back at the Santiago Bernabeu next season. Ricardo Carvalho’s deal with Monaco has already been announced, so that is already one farewell wave for the Real Madrid fans to make. 

However, other footballers who could be putting on their boots in another ground next year may include the immensely popular Gonzalo Higuain, according to Fidel De La Fuente of Marca, and the sometimes popular Angel Di Maria, via Charles Perrin of The Express. Best not to say too much else about Fabio Coentrao for the sake of being polite.  

Football, Football, Football 

What else is there to do?