CONFIRMED lineups: Real Madrid vs Málaga, La Liga

Real Madrid Starting XI: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Isco, James, Bale, Ronaldo.

Málaga Starting XI: Kameni, Rosales, Angeleri, Sánchez, Boka, Darder, Recio, Samuel, Amrabat, Castillejo, Juanmi.

FC Barcelona beat Valencia at the Camp Nou after Parejo missed a chance to equalize from the penalty spot. That makes this match against Málaga even more important. If Real Madrid want to have a shot at the Liga BBVA title, they need to win, as Los Blancos should not expect FC Barcelona dropping points twice over the next six games -- maybe not even once --.

Ancelotti finally decides to start Isco Alarcón in Karim Benzema's spot, something that will move Cristiano Ronaldo to the center-forward position, Bale to the left flank and James to the right. Real Madrid should have more control and this will be an interesting experiment to see if this formation could work against Atlético de Madrid next Wednesday.

It will not be easy for Real Madrid to focus on both La Liga and the Champions League, but that's just what they need to do right now.