Real Madrid: How They Will Line Up vs. Osasuna in La Liga

Fresh from a sensational Champions League group phase, Real Madrid return to La Liga action against Osasuna on Saturday afternoon.

A win in the Primera Division's early match would take them temporarily level with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of the table on 40 points.

But despite Osasuna sitting in 16th position in the table, Madrid will be cautious not to take three points for granted against the side which held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw earlier in the season.

Carlo Ancelotti resisted the urge to put out a weakened team against Copenhagen in midweek, with Los Blancos having already secured top spot, and that could be a sign of what he feels his strongest side is at the moment.

Although he will presumably make one change from the team which won 2-0 in Denmark.

Diego Lopez is the league goalkeeper, and he will replace Iker Casillas in between the sticks for the trip to Osasuna.

Across the back four Ancelotti's decisions on who to play are made easier by the continued absences of Fabio Coentrao and Raphael Varane, meaning Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo will fill three of the four spots.

Madrid's right-back spot is never as predictable. Alvaro Arbeloa started in midweek, but Dani Carvajal is always ready and waiting to step into the fold.

Los Blancos' main problem this season has been finding the right personnel to play in midfield. It looked liked Ancelotti had settled on a three-man midfield which involved Sami Khedira, when the German was cruelly sidelined for six months.

However, as Marca point out, it now seems as though the Italian has struck upon his new favoured midfield:

"[Xabi] Alonso's return to fitness has ended any debate. [Luka] Modric has developed a great partnership with the Basque. The Croat is one of the squad's most in-form players and he links up perfectly with Xabi."

It means a shift from 4-3-3 back to 4-2-3-1, with Isco sandwiched in the middle of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The return of Alonso has been a massive boost to Madrid, and it can't be overstated how much they have improved since he recovered from the knock which ruled him out at the beginning of the season.

Having gone through a tough patch earlier in the season, Karim Benzema has found some form again to secure his place as Carlo's No. 9, seeing off the challenges of Jese Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata. The Frenchman had been part of a frightening partnership alongside Bale and Ronaldo prior to the Portuguese's injury.

And with Marca suggesting that "Carlo will insist on his first-choice XI in Pamplona," it seems the only position up for debate will be who starts at right-back.

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Diego Lopez; Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric; Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo; Karim Benzema