Preview: Real Madrid vs. Real Valladolid

Real Madrid host Real Valladolid on Saturday evening as they look to take a step closer to sealing second position in the La Liga table.

After defeating city rivals Atletico last weekend, Real have moved six points clear with five matches remaining, leaving them requiring just three more victories to guarantee a runners-up spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo is absent for the home side, and that could mean a start for striker Karim Benzema.

Valladolid face a fight to make it into the top half of the La Liga table after securing just one win in their last five games.

However, they are undefeated in their last three matches, and that could see Miroslav Dukic name an unchanged lineup for his club's trip to the Bernabeu.

Recent form

Real Madrid: WWLWW

Real Valladolid: LLWDD

Possible starting lineups

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Sergio Ramos, Coentrao, Varane, Essien; Alonso, Modric, Ozil, Di Maria; Benzema, Higuain

Real Valladolid: Jaime, Rukavina, Marc Valiente, Balenziaga, Ebert; Rueda, Alvaro Rubio, Gonzalez, Perez, Larsson; Javi Guerra

Sports Mole says: 4-1