Real Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they travel to Eibar this weekend.
Los Blancos were held to a goalless draw by Real Betis last weekend, but Zinedine Zidane's side are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, while Eibar currently sit down in 14th position.
Match preview
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Four wins, three draws and five defeats - that is how Eibar have performed in Spain's top flight this season, with a total of 15 points leaving them in 14th position in the table. They are actually only three points off the top eight, though, and sit six points clear of the relegation zone heading into week 13.
A poor start to the campaign saw Eibar fail to win any of their first five matches, but Jose Luis Mendilibar's side recorded back-to-back wins over Sevilla and Celta Vigo towards the end of September.
Another three-game run followed, but Los Armeros have won their last two against Villarreal and Leganes. They also have history against Madrid, having recorded a stunning 3-0 victory in the corresponding match last term.
Since earning promotion to the top flight for the 2014-15 campaign, Eibar have performed incredibly well. The Basque side should have actually been relegated in 2015 after finishing 18th, but Elche's financial problems saw them drop out of the league while Eibar were given a huge lifeline.
Since then, they have finished 14th, 10th, ninth and 12th as they continue to establish themselves at this level of football. It is a tough ask to overcome Madrid for a second successive year on home soil, but Mendilibar's team will be feeling good about themselves after collecting six points from the last six available.
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Madrid missed a huge chance to move to the top of La Liga last weekend when they were held to a goalless draw by Betis at the Bernabeu. As a result, Zidane's team are second in the table, level on points with both leaders Barca and third-placed Real Sociedad heading into this weekend's games.
It has been a strange start to the season for the capital giants, but they have shown signs of their best in recent weeks. Indeed, Madrid have won three of their last four in all competitions, including a thumping 5-0 victory over Leganes in the league at the end of last month.
What's more, Los Blancos will enter this match off the back of a 6-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Rodrygo Goes scored a stunning hat-trick for the European giants, who have now won their last two matches in the competition after a tricky start.
Eden Hazard is still struggling to perform for Madrid, but Karim Benzema is again enjoying a fine campaign for the club, scoring nine times in 14 matches in all competitions, including seven in 10 La Liga outings.
Barca's struggles have created an incredibly open league in the early stages of the season - just four points separate the top nine teams - and Madrid will be determined to put a win on the board this weekend.
Eibar form: WDLLWW
Real Madrid form: WDWLWD
Team News
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Eibar are once again expected to be without experienced centre-back Ivan Ramis due to a hamstring injury, while Roberto Correa is also a doubt due to a muscular problem.
Mendilibar has no fresh injury concerns from the side that won at Leganes last time out, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI sent onto the field.
Kike and Charles are expected to continue as the front two, although Sergi Enrich and Pedro Leon are both pushing for starting roles having featured off the bench at the weekend.
As for Madrid, Marco Asensio and Nacho are still out with knee injuries, while neither Gareth Bale nor James Rodriguez are expected to recover from their issues to feature on Saturday.
Marcelo has also emerged as an injury doubt for the visitors after being forced off in the first half of Wednesday's clash with Galatasaray; as a result, Ferland Mendy is in line to start at left-back.
Rodrygo is unlikely to be rested after his brilliant treble during the week, but Luka Modric could come back into the XI having been named on the bench against the Turkish outfit in the Champions League.
Eibar possible starting lineup: Dmitrovic; De Blasis, Oliveira, Arbilla, Cote; Orellana, Escalante, Diop, Inui; Kike, Charles
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Hazard, Benzema, Rodrygo
We say: Eibar 0-2 Real Madrid
Eibar recorded a terrific win over Madrid in the corresponding match last season, but it is difficult to see history repeating itself this weekend. We fancy Zidane's side to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight.
Matt Law
