Real Madrid 2 - Osasuna 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera (Celades 80'), Makelele; Figo, Zidane, Raúl; Morientes (Guti 85'). 4-2-3-1.
Osasuna: Unzué; Cruchaga, Josetxo, Lekumberri (Rivero 46'); Puñal, Contreras, Fernando; Gancedo, Izquierdo (Sabino 65'); Iván Rosado (Palacios 60'), Aloisi. 3-3-2-2.

Team changes: Madrid: No change / Osasuna: Josetxo, Lekumberri, Aloisi for Olarra, Alfredo, Armentano.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Morientes. Header on far post after Roberto Carlos crossed from left.
2-0. 16. Raúl. On goal line after Morientes headed down Figo corner.
2-1. 85. Aloisi. Headed down past Casillas after Rivero's cross from right.

Real Madrid moved up to within two points of the leaders with their fifth league victory in the last six games, beating Osasuna in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Del Bosque named an unchanged side for the third league match in a row, with Pavón once again keeping out Karanka and Raúl and Zidane alternating on the left of midfield. Lotina gave youngster Josetxo a first start, and brought back Aloisi after a long spell of international duty with Australia.

Full of confidence after a good start in the Champions League and another win in the Spanish cup, Madrid raced into a two goal lead with only a quarter of an hour gone. Their on-form striker Morientes got his name on the scoresheet first, heading home a long cross from Roberto Carlos in the thirteenth minute with the defence standing still. Then three minutes later the Spanish international rose above the defence to head Figo's corner goalwards, Raúl getting the last touch on the goal line to claim his second goal in a week from the same position. It looked as if it was going to be a massacre, and it could have been if Unzué had not saved well from Raúl, and then pushed a Zidane effort against the post later in the half.

Lotina brought on Rivero at half time, and Iván Rosado gave a first warning almost immediately with a couple of efforts which went just wide. Possibly thinking about their Champions League commitment in three days time the home side slackened off, and the visitors started to work their way back in to the game. Salgado had to clear his own miskick off the line with ten minutes to go, and shortly afterwards Aloisi headed a goal back from Rivero's cross. Madrid were on the defensive, and in the last minute only a double save from Casillas stopped Aloisi and then Palacios from levelling the scores. To the relief of the home fans the referee signalled the end a minute or so later, leaving the league champions back up in fifth place, and Osasuna still down in the relegation zone.