Preview: Real Madrid vs. Elche

Real Madrid put their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of champions and rivals Atletico Madrid firmly behind them by thumping Deportivo 8-2 at the Riazor on Saturday afternoon.

The thrashing of Depor came off the back of a 5-1 victory over Swiss outfit FC Basel in the Champions League, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti's side go into Tuesday's home encounter with Elche having scored 13 goals in their last two outings.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his 24th hat-trick for Los Blancos at the weekend, is expected to start in the Bernabeu, despite the fact that he has recently been suffering with a knee complaint.

Elsewhere, right-back Dani Carvajal has returned to fitness and could be included within the starting lineup at the expense of Raphael Varane, while there may also be a first start for Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez following the two goals that he scored against Depor.

Amid pressure from supporters, it is expected that Ancelotti will also drop goalkeeper Iker Casillas in favour of handing a full debut to Costa Rican international Keylor Navas.

The Spanish capital has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Elche, who have never left the Bernabeu with a victory. Of the 20 meetings between the two sides there, they have lost 17 and drawn just three, the last of which came during the 1975-76 campaign.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Real won out 3-0 winners, with Gareth Bale getting among the goals.

Recent form

Real Madrid: LWLLWW

Elche: LDWL

Possible starting lineups

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos; Rodriguez, Bale, Ronaldo; Hernandez

Elche: Tyton; Edu, Roco, Lomban, Suarez; Rodriguez, Adrian; Fajr, Coro, Herrera; Jonathas

Sports Mole says: 2-0