Real Madrid will be aiming to post a fifth straight victory in all competitions when they welcome a struggling Granada side to Bernabeu in Spain's top flight on Saturday evening.
Los Blancos are currently top of the La Liga table, level on points with second-placed Girona, while Granada sit down in 19th position, having only collected nine points from their opening 14 games of 2023-24.
Match preview
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Real Madrid secured first position in their Champions League section on Wednesday evening courtesy of a 4-2 success over Italian giants Napoli at Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti's side progressing to the knockout round of the competition at the head of Group C.
Los Blancos have also been victorious in their last two in the league, beating Valencia 5-1 and Cadiz 3-0, with the results allowing them to regain first position in the table from Girona, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao in their last match.
Real Madrid are level on points (35) with Girona but sit at the summit on the head-to-head record, having beaten the Catalan outfit 3-0 when the two teams locked horns earlier this season, while Ancelotti's team are four clear of both third-placed Atletico Madrid and fourth-placed Barcelona.
Los Blancos have not exactly been at their free-flowing best throughout the season, but they are the second-highest goalscorers in the division with 31 goals, while the leaders have comfortably the best defensive record, conceding just nine times, which is a brilliant record considering their injury problems.
Real Madrid will face Granada, Real Betis, Villarreal and Alaves in their final four league matches of 2024, while they will take on Union Berlin in their last Champions League group fixture on December 12, but their form in Europe this season means that Ancelotti will be able to heavily rotate for that contest in Germany.
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Granada's campaign has not been as positive, with the strugglers currently down in 19th position in the table, boasting a record of one win, four draws and nine defeats, which has seen them collect just seven points.
The Andalusian outfit secured a return to Spain's top flight for the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of their Segunda Division title triumph last term, but they are in danger of dropping back down to the second tier.
There is a new manager at the helm, with Alexander Medina replacing Paco Lopez, who was sacked following the team's 3-1 defeat to Alaves last weekend.
Medina, 45, had been without a job since leaving Velez Sarsfield in February, and he has now received his first European managerial position, while his first assignment could not be more difficult.
Granada's only league win of the campaign came against Mallorca at the end of August, and they have lost four of their last five in Spain's top flight, including their last three on their travels, which will not exactly fill their supporters with much confidence ahead of this contest.
Team News
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Real Madrid forward Rodrygo had to be substituted late on against Napoli on Wednesday, but the Brazilian said after the match that he was only suffering with cramp, and he is available here.
Ancelotti revealed in his post-match press conference that none of the players currently on the sidelines would be able to return for this match, with Luka Modric missing out once again; Kepa Arrizabalaga is back in the squad, but Andriy Lunin will continue between the sticks.
Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois remain unavailable for selection due to injury issues.
Jude Bellingham scored his 15th goal of the campaign against Napoli and will again be in the XI despite concerns over an ankle problem, but Ancelotti could make some changes following the European clash, with Lucas Vazquez, Nacho and Joselu potentially being introduced into the starting side this weekend.
As for Granada, Jesus Vallejo, who is on loan at the club from Real Madrid, remains unavailable for selection due to a hamstring issue, while Miguel Angel Rubio is missing due to an ankle complaint.
There are goals in the Granada side, with Bryan Zaragoza - available again after a ban - and Myrto Uzuni netting five each in the league this term, and both players will be in the XI for this game, in addition to Lucas Boye, who has three goals to his name in Spain's top flight this term.
New head coach Medina is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes, but Ricard Sanchez could be introduced in a defensive position for the visitors.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Vazquez, Nacho, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Joselu
Granada possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; R Sanchez, Torrente, Miquel, Neva; Villar, Gumbau, Melendo; Uzuni, Boye, Zaragoza
We say: Real Madrid 3-0 Granada
Real Madrid have a number of injury problems at this moment in time, and Granada will certainly be the fresher of the two teams for this match.
Los Blancos have not lost to Granada in Spain's top flight since February 2013, though, winning the last 14 La Liga matches between them, and we are finding it very difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable success for the division leaders this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
