Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from their shock Champions League elimination when they visit Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday night.
Los Blancos lost 4-1 at home to Ajax on Tuesday night to exit the Champions League, while they were also beaten in their last league fixture by Barcelona, which has left them 12 points off the top of the table.
Real Valladolid
© ReutersBack in La Liga after securing promotion via the Segunda Division playoffs last term, Valladolid currently sit 16th in Spain's top flight, just three points clear of 18th-placed Villarreal entering Week 27.
Six wins, eight draws and 12 defeats - that is how Valladolid have performed this season. They are actually the lowest scorers in the league with just 20 goals, but have only conceded 34, which is far from disastrous.
There is no question that the club's fans will be concerned by their team's current form, however, as only one league victory has arrived in 2019. Valladolid have actually lost four of their last five, including a 3-1 defeat at Espanyol last time out. That said, they only narrowly lost (1-0) away to Barcelona on February 16.
The White and Violets spent four seasons in Segunda Division following their relegation at the end of the 2013-14 campaign, but they are now back in the top tier and will be desperate to keep their spot at this level.
Valladolid's home form this season has been poor, collecting just 12 points from their 12 matches. No team has a worse record in Spain's top flight this term and that will be a concern entering the business end of the campaign.
As mentioned above, finding the back of the net has been a real problem and the fact that their leading scorers are Oscar Plano, Ruben Alcaraz and Enes Unal with three each is an indication of how things stand.
Valladolid have not beaten Madrid since November 2008, but the pair did share the points in a 1-1 draw when they last locked horns at the home of Pucela in May 2014.
Los Blancos are the favourites for obvious reasons, but Santiago Solari's side have been severely damaged by events over the last few weeks and Valladolid might never have a better chance to beat the European champions.
Recent form: WLDLLL
Real Madrid
© ReutersTo be blunt, it has been a disastrous few weeks for Madrid. Things seemed to have taken a turn for the better in the early stages of 2019, particularly between January 19 and February 13 when they won seven of their eight matches in all competitions, remaining unbeaten in the process.
Los Blancos suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Girona in the middle of last month but then returned to winning ways in Spain's top flight with a narrow success away to Levante one week later. Since then, though, things have changed.
A 3-0 home defeat to Barcelona on February 27 saw them exit the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals, before they suffered a 1-0 loss to their bitter rivals in the league earlier this month. In the space of three days, Ernesto Valverde's side knocked Madrid out of the Copa del Rey and all but ended their already-slim La Liga title hopes.
The Champions League looked like it would have to be the saving grace, but Los Blancos incredibly lost 4-1 at home to Ajax on Tuesday night to exit in the round of 16 courtesy of a 5-3 aggregate defeat.
Madrid still have 12 league games remaining, but their season is effectively over. Barcelona have a 12-point advantage over their Clasico rivals at the summit, while Atletico Madrid are five points ahead in second spot.
It seems impossible that Solari will last much longer, with Madrid preparing to replace the Spaniard. Zinedine Zidane and Jose Mourinho have both been strongly linked with the position and it does appear that one of those will be brought back to the Bernabeu, at least until the end of the season.
It was always going to be a difficult season without Cristiano Ronaldo, but Julen Lopetegui was perhaps not given enough of a chance to make his mark in the opening months of the campaign. Solari has had some good moments in the hot-seat, but it has gone seriously wrong over the last few weeks.
Plans will already be underway for next season, but Madrid have to remain professional between now and the end of the 2018-19 campaign, which will go down as one to forget for the capital giants.
The 33-time Spanish champions have the second-best away record in the league this season despite their troubles, while their recent form against Valladolid has been impressive - winning seven of the last eight La Liga meetings. There is no question that the supporters will be looking for a response.
Recent form: WWWLWL
Recent form (all competitions): WLWLLL
Team News
© ReutersValladolid are still without the services of defensive midfielder Luismi and winger Toni Villa through injury.
Sergi Guardiola missed a penalty in Valladolid's defeat at Espanyol last time out, but the Spaniard should continue in the final third of the field alongside Unal.
A 3-4-1-2 formation is also expected to see Plano keep his position in attacking midfield, but Keko is another option for head coach Sergio.
As for Madrid, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez all picked up injuries against Ajax. Vinicius could actually miss the remainder of the season with his leg injury in what is a huge blow to the club.
Sergio Ramos missed the Ajax game due to a European suspension and the club captain will serve a domestic ban in this match, meaning that Nacho should continue alongside Raphael Varane at the heart of the defence.
Gareth Bale picked up an ankle injury in the latter stages of Tuesday's clash but should shake off the problem to start in the final third, with Marco Asensio also tipped to come in alongside Karim Benzema.
Marcos Llorente could be available following a groin problem but is unlikely to start.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Olivas, B. Fernandez, J. Fernandez; Antonito, Mohamed, Alcaraz, Nacho; Plano; Unal, Guardiola
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Nacho, Reguilon; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
Head To Head
Madrid recorded a 2-0 victory in the reverse match at the Bernabeu earlier this season, with Vinicius and Ramos both netting in the final 10 minutes.
Los Blancos have been victorious in seven of the last eight league meetings between the two sides, but Valladolid held Madrid to a 1-1 draw on home soil in May 2014.
Valladolid's last La Liga victory (1-0) over Madrid came at home during the 2008-09 campaign.
We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Real Madrid
It is a difficult one to predict. Both teams will feel that they can pick up a positive result, but Valladolid have really struggled in recent weeks and we fancy a narrow away win, despite Madrid's troubles.
