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Real Madrid travel to Estadio Municipal de Butarque after a convincing 3-0 victory over Deportivo Alavés on Sunday, two points ahead of Barcelona with a game in-hand in La Liga.
Los Merengues have been in good form since their home blip to Las Palmas, where they drew 3-3, winning all five of their games thereafter — including a Champions League victory away to Napoli.
Cool finishes from Karim Benzema, Isco, and Nacho ensured that the team's good form continued at the weekend, and Zinedine Zidane will be delighted that goals are flowing ahead of the big tests against Atletico, Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively before the end of April.
Goals from Gareth Bale (2) and Alvaro Morata gave Real a comfortable victory in the reverse at the Bernabeu at the beginning of November.
Zidane rested captain Sergio Ramos on Sunday, due to the bigger tests ahead for his side, but after Raphael Varane picked up a hamstring injury that will likely see him out for a month, you'd imagine Ramos will be re-installed in the starting XI.
Leganes have only won two of their last six fixtures — both at home, to Deportivo and then Granada. Since that 4-0 victory against Depor, goals have been hard to come by for the hosts. They’ve scored just three times since.
However, they did managed to claim a point away to fifth placed Real Sociedad. Leganes sit five points above the bottom three, level on points with Malaga and Depor, but Sporting will fancy overtaking them with nine games to go.
Zidane could rotate a few players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who would be suspended for Saturday's El Derbi Madrileño, should he see yellow tomorrow. Dani Carvajal is in a similar position, and for this reason Zidane has refused to confirm whether both are in the squad for the match.
The good think for Real is, that there are no other fresh injury concerns. Zidane must juggle the side appropriately, however, in order to keep players fresh for a season-defining month.
How to watch
Available TV: BeIN Sports (USA), Movistar Partidazo (Spain).
Available streaming: BeIN Sports Connect (USA), Fubo.TV (EVERY Real Madrid game with a high-quality and legal stream, click here to sign up and benefit from a huge offer for new members and Managing Madrid readers).
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
Staff Predictions
| Result (1) | Score (2) | Goal Scorers (3) | Total Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result (1) | Score (2) | Goal Scorers (3) | Total Score | |
| Om | RM Win | 2-1 | CR7, Ramos; Higuaín | 42 |
| Kiyan | RM Win | 3-1 | Benz, CR7, Asensio; Pjanic | 45 |
| Timm | RM Win | 2-1 (RM win extra time) | CR7, Ramos; Dybala | 41 |
| Mike | - | - | - | 34 |
| Lucas | RM Loss | 1-2 | CR7; Higuaín, Dybala | 26 |
| Nate | RM Win | 4-2 | -CR7x2, Bale, Morata; Higuain, Dybala | 47 |
| Marc | - | - | - | 3 |
| Lewis | - | - | - | 10 |
| Tommy | RM Loss | 1-2 | Benz; Higuaín, Mandzukic | 19 |
| Naguib | RM Win | 2-0 | CR7, Bale | 29 |
| Vicki | - | - | - | 1 |
| Ondra | RM Win | 2-0 | CR7, Ramos | 18 |
| Jack | RM Win | 2-2 (RM win on pk's 4-3) | CR7, Ramos; Dybala x2 | 6 |
| Matt | RM Win | 1-0 | CR7 | 8 |
| Sam | RM Win | 2-1 | - | 1 |
| José | RM Win | 3-1 | CR7 x2, Morata; Mandzukic | 3 |