For once, the merengue club did not rely on KB9, who stumbled twice on the goalkeeper, but on goals from David Alaba (12th), Marco Asensio (45th) and Lucas Vazquez (90th + 6) .

Despite two missed penalties by Karim Benzema, Real Madrid won 3-1 against Osasuna on the 33rd day of LaLiga on April 20, 2022 in Pamplona ANDER GILLENEA AFP

Even if he cannot be credited with an assist, the French striker is involved in the opener: David Alaba had to try twice to score after his free kick.

He also distinguished himself with a delicious roulette at the start of the counter-attack concluded by the third goal.

The joy of Real Madrid's Austrian defender David Alaba, after opening the scoring against Osasuna, during the 33rd day of LaLiga, April 20, 2022 in Pampelonne ANDER GILLENEA AFP

Benzema has therefore still not lost his sense of the game, but Real could have lost David Alaba less than a week before the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday.

The Austrian defender gave up his place at half-time after complaining just before the break of an injury which worried his partners.

Proof that the C1 was in the heads in Pamplona, ​​Carlo Ancelotti opted for a very revamped team with Luka Modric left to rest, Toni Kroos, Vinicius and Dani Carvajal starting on the bench.

The coronation in La Liga is no longer really in doubt.

It would take a cataclysm to see a 35th league title escape Real Madrid.

The disaster scenario?

That the merengue club grabs less than four points in its last five matches while its competitors are refueling.

Suffice to say that Carlo Ancelotti is very close to winning his first Spanish league title, the only one he did not add to Real Madrid's huge list of achievements during his first stint at his helm (2013-2015) .

Atletico neutralized

If the successor to Atletico is becoming more and more precise, the defending champion missed the opportunity to clarify his destiny by being held in check by Granada (0-0) on Wednesday.

Facing the first relegation, the Colchoneros (61 points) did not take advantage of the setback of Betis Sevilla (57 pts), beaten 1-0 the day before by Elche, to afford a mattress on fifth place in La Liga, the first not qualifying for the Champions League.

A delicate schedule awaits Diego Simeone's men, however.

Among their last five matches are a derby against Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano or the reception of FC Sevilla, before a last perilous day on the ground of Real Sociedad.

Because the San Sebastian club, sixth (55 pts), can come back to three points from "Atleti" in the event of an exploit against Barcelona on Thursday.

The absence for sure until the end of the season of Joao Félix and perhaps also that of Thomas Lemar could weigh in the final sprint.

Lacking imagination in the first half, Atletico did not change after switching to three attackers after returning from the locker room, with the entry of Luis Suarez in place of midfielder Javier Serrano.

Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez stumbles over Granada's Portuguese goalkeeper Maximiano, during the 33rd day of LaLiga, April 20, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium JAVIER SORIANO AFP

The Colchoneros tried a lot (22 shots) but most often from far and wide: only one of their shots was on target.

© 2022 AFP