Real Madrid rested Toni Kroos and Luka Modric and still had enough to beat Osasuna and keep up the pace on La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.
They had to sweat for the 2-0 victory, and no-one more than Eden Hazard who started brightly but faded badly and had just been substituted when Zinedine Zidane’s team finally took the lead on 76 minutes.
There was more collateral damage from the victory with Raphael Varane taken off at half time with a muscle problem in his right leg making him a doubt for Wednesday against Chelsea.