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NederlandReal Madrid will be looking to make it four La Liga victories in a row when they continue their 2020-21 campaign away to struggling Real Valladolid on Saturday night.
Los Blancos will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 win over Valencia last weekend, while Valladolid picked up a point at Eibar in their last game but are still inside the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Valladolid have won four, drawn nine and lost 10 of their 23 La Liga matches this season, with a total of 21 points leaving them in 18th position in the table. There is still plenty of time for the White and Violets to move out of the bottom three, but the team's form in recent weeks has been disappointing.
Sergio Gonzalez's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Eibar on February 13, which made it six matches without a victory in Spain's top flight dating back to the start of January.
The race to avoid the drop is fascinating as there are only three points separating 18th-placed Valladolid from Valencia in 13th, while even Osasuna in 12th are not out of the argument at this stage.
Los Blanquivioletas have only picked up 10 points from their 11 home league matches this season, which is the joint-fourth worst record in the division, while it is more than 12 years since they last overcame Madrid in La Liga, and the reverse game earlier this season ended in a 1-0 win for Los Blancos.
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Madrid, as mentioned, will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over Valencia on Sunday, with Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos on the scoresheet for the reigning champions.
Zinedine Zidane's side have actually won their last three in the league to occupy second position in the table, but they are six points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who also have a game in hand.
Los Blancos will be determined to stay close to Atletico in the event that Diego Simeone's side go through a difficult run, but the reigning champions also have a last-16 Champions League clash with Atalanta BC on the horizon, facing the Italian side in the first leg on February 24.
Madrid will be desperate to put another three points on the board this weekend ahead of back-to-back league matches with Real Sociedad and Atletico at the start of March.
Zidane's team have been impressive on their travels this season, picking up 25 points from 12 matches, while they beat Valladolid 1-0 in the corresponding clash last term.
Real Valladolid La Liga form: LDDLLD
Real Valladolid form (all competitions): DDLLLD
Real Madrid La Liga form: DWLWWW
Real Madrid form (all competitions): LWLWWW
Team News
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Valladolid will be without the services of Pablo Hervias, Javi Sanchez, Ruben Garcia, Oscar Plano, Jawad El Yamiq and Maranhao this weekend through injury, while Lucas Olaza is suspended.
Head coach Sergio will have Fede, Joaquin Fernandez and Ruben Alcaraz available following suspensions of their own, though, with the trio all missing out against Eibar.
Sergi Guardiola could get the nod over Shon Weissman in the final third of the field, while Joaquin and Fede should both return to the starting XI for the clash with Madrid.
The visitors will again be without Marcelo, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Odriozola, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo Goes through injury for Saturday's fixture, while Dani Carvajal pulled up with a fresh issue against Valencia last time out and is facing another spell on the sidelines.
There are not expected to be many surprises in the Madrid XI, with Lucas Vazquez replacing Carvajal, while Nacho will continue at the heart of the defence alongside Raphael Varane.
Zidane is likely to stick with the same front three, meanwhile, with Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio starting alongside Benzema as Eden Hazard is not yet fit to return.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Perez, Joaquin, Bruno, Nacho; Mesa, Fede; Villa, Perez, Rubio; Guardiola
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
We say: Real Valladolid 0-2 Real Madrid
Madrid are still missing a number of important players, but the same can also be said for Valladolid, who are struggling to retain their spot at this level of football. The home side are capable of making it a difficult evening for the champions, but we are expecting Zidane's side to pick up another three points.
