Football: Madrid eye run to the title

MADRID: Having steadied the ship following two consecutive draws with commanding wins in La Liga and in Europe, Real Madrid begin a crucial run of games with a tricky trip to Pamplona to face Osasuna today. Osasuna have been one of the surprise packages of this campaign and have lost just once in their last nine games, a run which included a 3-2 home win against Barcelona. “The pressure is on them although they are used to playing with it,” said Osasuna captain Patxo Punal. “They need to win and we will do all that we can to ensure the points stay at home. It is always a big motivation to play against a big side and we are up against the leaders in Madrid.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2012.