0-2 Osasuna Real Madrid: Marco Asensio and Federico Valverde score late goals to cut the champions' lead over LaLiga leaders Barcelona to five points.

 0-2 Osasuna Real Madrid: Marco Asensio and Federico Valverde score late goals to cut the champions' lead over LaLiga leaders Barcelona to five points.

Federico Valverde eventually opened the scoring, and with just over 10 minutes remaining, Marco Asencio sealed the three points for the champions.

Moi Gomez scored for Osasuna in their best effort of the game.

Real Madrid cut the gap at the top of La Liga to five points with a 2-0 win over Osasuna three days before facing Liverpool in the Champions League.

It was a hard-fought victory won without Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and Aurelien Tchouameni, all of whom should be available for Tuesday's game.

There were times when Benzema's absence was felt, but Alvaro Rodriguez's superb second-half performance as a substitute will have given Carlo Ancelotti food for thought for the next time he is without the Frenchman. After Fede Valverde scored the first, he set up Marco Asensio for the second.

In the first half, he was the main threat, but Sergio Herrera denied him one-on-one in Madrid's best chance.

Real Madrid scored late against Osasuna to cut the gap to five points on LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

Federico Valverde of Real Madrid scored with just over 10 minutes remaining to secure a crucial victory.

In the final minutes, Marco Asensio doubled Real Madrid's lead, ensuring the champions took all three points.

Just before halftime, the Brazilian was booked for a clash with Moi Gomez, who was also shown the yellow card. As the two teams walked off the pitch, Ancelotti sought out the referee; his Brazilian winger had only recently returned from suspension and had already been cautioned.

Real Madrid began the second half strongly, with Rodrygo hitting the goal frame with one effort and Vinicius finding the net only to be flagged offside from David Alaba's pass.

Osasuna's response was to go close through Ante Budimir, whose shot was saved from close range by Thibaut Courtois. As Osasuna pushed for the opener, Moi Gomez smashed a shot off the foot of the Belgian's post.

Madrid carry far less threat without Benzema at center-forward, and Rodrygo struggled to make an impression. It appeared as if Ancelotti's side would take the lead through Vinicius, and when he went through on goal with 15 minutes remaining, he was favourite to score, but Herrera saved at his feet and the stalemate continued.

Three minutes later, the goal came down the left, Vinicius was involved, and it was remarkably simple. Modric sent the Brazilian down the wing, and he crossed for Fede Valverde to score past Herrera.

Vinicius Jr had a frustrating evening after having two goals disallowed for offside in the second half.

The Brazilian winger celebrates after scoring, but VAR officials rule it out for offside.

Tensions rose in the first half, with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Osasuna's Moi Gomez both receiving yellow cards for colliding off the ball.

Before the game, both teams observed a minute of silence to remember the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Diego Moreno then drew Vinicius back, and the Madrid bench was enraged when no action was taken. Nacho was arrested as a result of his protests.

Vinicius appeared to have doubled the lead with a goal on 90 minutes off an assist from 18-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez. He had only just entered the Osasuna half and had gotten past the last defender in the build-up, so the goal was ruled out.

But the substitute would not be denied, and moments later he robbed the ball high up the pitch and teed up fellow substitute Marco Asensio, who scored to make it 2-0.

Barcelona can extend their lead against Cadiz on Sunday, but Madrid has demonstrated that they have the stomach for this title fight and are in good shape for the trip to Anfield in midweek.