Match Preview

Real Madrid play host to Levante as Real looks to win a second straight league match on Saturday.

These two clubs have already played this season after Real took a 2-0 road win at the Estadio Cerámica back in October. Despite the win, Real has only won three of the last seven league matches against Levante.

Levante is having a fairly disappointing season. The club has two wins in its last five matches and is currently in 12th, tied on points with Getafe. Levante is only five points ahead of a relegation spot.

Real is looking to gain ground on Atletico, who now sits seven points ahead in the league table still with a match in-hand to play. Barcelona is also starting to catch up and now sits just three points behind Los Blancos.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid has a lengthy injury list as Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Fede Valverde, Rodrygo and Nacho are set to miss Saturday’s match. Zinedine Zidane will miss his second straight match due to coronavirus.

Levante will likely be without midfielders Nikola Vukcevic Jose Campaña and winger Jorge de Frutos.

There are no suspensions for either club in Saturday’s meeting in Madrid.

Potential XIs

Real Madrid

Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Militão, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Hazard, Benzema

With both Carvajal and Vazquez out with injury, Alvaro Odriozola is the natural replacement at right-back. Eder Militão will almost certainly slot in the backline in Ramos and Nacho’s absence.

There’s really no competition for Marco Asensio at right wing in this squad so he will likely start with both Rodrygo and Vazquez out.

Levante

Fernandez; Miramon, Duarte, Vezo, Clerc; Son, Radoja, Malsa, Morales; Roger, Gomez

Prediction

Real Madrid—Levante 2-1

This should be a winnable match for Real Madrid at home in spite of the injuries the squad has sustained. Levante allow a good amount of goals and Real is likely fielding a nearly full starting midfield and forward corps. The backline is a bit suspect, but it should be able to sustain against a club outside of the top ten.

This is another match where assistant coach David Bettoni will have a chance to succeed without Zidane after getting the win last weekend. Los Blancos need the three points because it appears nothing is stopping Atletico and Barcelona is riding a hot streak currently.

Real can only control the matches it plays in so getting three points makes it a bit less stressful in regards to the league table. The club has already beaten Las Granotas once this season on the road, Los Blancos need to be able to do it at home Saturday.