Match Preview

Real Madrid hosts Granada for the first time this season as the club looks to extend its second-place lead at home.

Real has won its last four league matches played and now has a three point lead over Real Sociedad after its loss to Atletico. Real Madrid trails the top spot in La Liga also by a three-point margin.

Granada has won its last two matches in La Liga and is currently sitting seventh in the league table. The club has only won two of its last six road matches.

Los Blancos have done well against Granada in league play. They have won their last ten matches played against the Nazaries, which is the longest streak for Real amongst the teams playing in the Primera División this season.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid will still be missing at least one player in Luka Modric due to a minor injury. Eden Hazard, Vinicius and Isco have all returned to the

Granada will be without Fede Vico, Victor Diaz and Neyder Lozano.

There are no suspensions in Wednesday’s match.

Potential XIs

Real Madrid

Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Vinicius, Benzema

With Modric out with injury Fede Valverde is the natural replacement to start in the Croatian’s absence.

Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez both started against Eibar over the weekend and could be swapped for rest in favor of Asensio and the returning Vinicius. Zidane will likely take it slow with Hazard but there’s a good chance we see him off the bench.

Granada

Silva; Foulquier, Duarte, Sanchez, Neva; Eteki, Herrera, Milla; Machis, Suarez, Soldado

Prediction

Real Madrid—Granada 2-1

This is going to be a relatively tough match for Real considering how well Granada has been playing so far this season. It will not be an easy walk at home to collect three points.

Even though the club has conceded more goals than scored this season, Granada has kept a clean sheet in its last two matches.

With the exception of Modric’s absence, this is the closest Zidane and Real have had to a fully healthy squad all season. This should very much help when it comes time for substitutions that can make an impact late in the game.

This is a good chance for Real to capitalize on the loss of one of the clubs in the top three. A win would give Los Blancos a six point lead over La Real and a tie with the league-leading Atletico.

It won’t come easy, but Real will at least be at home with a relatively full squad available to get where the club needs to be midweek. Real must continue its recent dominance over Granada to come out with the win and the three points.