Real Madrid will look to end a run of five games without a win in La Liga when they welcome high-flying Real Valladolid to the Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon.
Los Blancos have incredibly lost four of their last five in the league to sit down in ninth position, and are currently seven points off division leaders Barcelona after 10 matches of the 2018-19 campaign.
Real Madrid
© Reuters
Last weekend's 5-1 defeat at Barcelona in El Clasico proved to be the end of the line for Julen Lopetegui. The 52-year-old was never going to survive what has been a torrid run of form, and the embarrassing result at Camp Nou proved to be the final straw as the former Spain boss was removed from his position.
Santiago Solari has been placed in temporary charge of Madrid, and his reign started with a 4-0 win over Melilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old has stepped up from Real Madrid Castilla to take on the role, and he will again be in the dugout for the clash with Valladolid this weekend.
Madrid actually started their 2018-19 La Liga campaign pretty well, beating Getafe, Girona, Leganes and Espanyol in four of their first five matches. Incredibly, however, the 1-0 win over Espanyol on September 22 is the last time that they managed to collect all three points from a league fixture.
Since then, they have lost to Sevilla, Alaves, Levante and Barcelona, in addition to drawing 0-0 with Atletico Madrid. That torrid run of form has left Los Blancos in ninth position in the table with a record of four wins, two draws and four defeats.
The capital giants are fortunate to only be seven points off the summit at this stage, with Barcelona dropping points in four of their 10 league matches this season. A record of just 14 goals in 10 La Liga matches this term is an indication of the team's struggles in the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo's exit.
It is still early in the campaign, however, and when considering that Madrid's next three league matches are against Valladolid, Celta Vigo and Eibar, there are points to be gained. It would certainly not be a surprise to see the team in and around Barcelona approaching the winter break in Spain.
Valladolid have been on a brilliant run in recent weeks, however, and with confidence certainly low at the Bernabeu, Solari will have a job on his hands to ensure that Madrid return to winning ways in front of their own supporters.
Recent form: WLDLLL
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWLW
Real Valladolid
Valladolid are back in La Liga after securing promotion via the Segunda Division playoffs last term. They spent four seasons in the latter league following their relegation at the end of the 2013-14 campaign, but are now back in the top tier, and have made a very strong start to the season.
Sergio Gonzalez's team were winless in their first five matches of the 2018-19 campaign, drawing three times and suffering two defeats. There were plenty of positive signs, however, and they managed to put four straight victories on the board between September 27 and October 21.
Indeed, a 2-1 success over Levante was followed by three straight 1-0 wins over Villarreal, Huesca and Real Betis. Valladolid also played out a 1-1 draw with Espanyol last time out to leave themselves in sixth spot in the table.
Valladolid have incredibly only scored nine times in La Liga this season, which is the worst record in the top half of the table. They have, however, only shipped seven down the other end, which is the second-best defensive record in the entire division behind Atletico Madrid.
Valladolid are also unbeaten on their travels in La Liga this season, and have conceded just three times on the road, which is a very impressive record at this stage. Madrid have not exactly been full of goals this term, which should make for an interesting match at the Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon.
The White and Violets have not finished in the top half of La Liga since the 1999-2000 season. There is a long way to go this term, but another positive result this weekend would leave the supporters dreaming.
That said, two of Valladolid's next three are away to Madrid and Sevilla, and their lack of goals will be a concern as they prepare to visit two of the most difficult grounds in Spain's top flight.
Recent form: DWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDW
Team News
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Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Jesus Vallejo, Marcelo and Mariano Diaz are all on the sidelines for Madrid.
There is a concern that Marcelo could be out for several weeks with a hamstring problem, and his injury has come at the worst possible time when considering Madrid's problems in that area of the field.
The likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Isco and Gareth Bale were left out of the Copa del Rey clash with Melilla on Wednesday night, but will all return to the XI for this match.
Karim Benzema was on the scoresheet against the Segunda B outfit and will keep his spot in the final third, while Sergio Reguilon, who debuted in the Copa del Rey, is expected to feature at left-back.
That said, Alvaro Odriozola could be switched to left-back, allowing Lucas Vazquez to come in on the right.
As for Valladolid, head coach Gonzalez will also make changes following Wednesday's 2-1 win at Mallorca in the Copa del Rey.
Keko and Duje Cop remain on the sidelines with foot and muscular injuries respectively, but Jordi Masip, Enes Unal and Leonardo Suarez will be among those to return to the side.
Daniele Verde scored a brace in Valladolid's midweek victory over Mallorca, meanwhile, and the 22-year-old will hoping to be named in the XI.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Odriozola, Nacho, Ramos, Reguilon; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Isco, Benzema, Bale
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Martinez, Calero, Olivas, Moyano; Villa, Alcarez, Herrero, Regal; L Suarez, Unal
Head To Head
Madrid recorded a 4-0 win when these two teams last locked horns at the Bernabeu in November 2013. That said, the pair played out a 1-1 draw in their last La Liga fixture at the home of Valladolid.
Los Blancos have scored four times in each of their last three home La Liga games with Valladolid, and also put seven past the White and Violets during the 2007-08 campaign.
We say: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
Valladolid have been in excellent form in recent weeks, but Madrid are seriously due a La Liga win. We expect that to occur this weekend with a routine 2-0 success.
Matt Law
