Real Madrid vs Osasuna preview - Ronaldo eyes the power and the glory - 7M sport

Real Madrid vs Osasuna preview - Ronaldo eyes the power and the glory



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Posted Sunday, November 06, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to put aside personal accolades and help his side to "a year of glory".

Madrid improved significantly under Jose Mourinho last year but still ended the season with just the Copa del Rey trophy to show for their efforts as Barcelona won La Liga and the Champions League.

They have shown signs of pushing Barca even closer this term and currently top the Primera Division, with Osasuna next up at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Sunday's early game.

Ronaldo this week celebrated reaching 100 goals in just over two years in the Spanish capital, the latest in a line of personal achievements in the famous white shirt.

But he is ready to put those awards to one side and focus on bringing collective glory to Madrid.

"I never expected to reach 100 goals so soon and I have to thank my team-mates and coach," he told AS.

"Winning awards is very nice but the important thing is to win trophies with the group. Individual trophies are also for the group, of course, but together we'll fight for everything. Now comes the hard part.

"But I think it will be a year of glory together and we will win important trophies."

Madrid head into the match top of the table thanks largely to Sunday's opponents Osasuna, who defeated previous leaders Levante last weekend.

Goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, in the side in place of injured veteran Ricardo recently, is braced for a difficult day's work.

"It's a very difficult game and we know their quality," he said on his club's website.

"It is a game where you have to start in the right mindset, focused on work and discipline, and try to maintain that right the way through.

"I'm ready to defend the goal until the end."

Fernandez insists the Navarran outfit have learned from their 8-0 humiliation away to Barcelona.

"That was a miserable night," he conceded.

"But it helped us to learn and be prepared not to let it happen again. Personally I got over it quite quickly because we had another game two days later."

He added: "I'm not satisfied just with us putting on a good display. If we get a point or a win, it's obviously better. But if they are better than us then we just have to congratulate them.

"Real Madrid are not just Cristiano Ronaldo. It's a nice place to play but what matters is that we carry out the work and preparation we've done under the coach."

Jose Luis Mendilibar has personnel issues with only 16 players available at one point this week.

Eight players are sidelined, including Alvaro Cejudo, who is suspended. Jukka Raitala (thigh) and Sergio and Marc Bertran (both hamstring) are set to miss out while Masoud Shojaei, Ion Echaide, Roversio and Roland Lamah are long-term absentees.

Mourinho has Raul Albiol available after he returned from a fractured cheekbone but Nuri Sahin (knee) and Ricardo Carvalho (back) are still struggling.



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