Team News
It is horror time for Los Blancos who will be without Marcelo, Coentrao and Arbeloa. The Brazilian, Portuguese and Spanish defenders suffered serious injuries which will keep them on the sideline for a number of weeks.
Also unfit are Sami Khedira and Raphael Varane but Jose Mourinho will be hoping Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain shake off their knocks to support Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.
In post for Celta de Vigo, goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez is expected to maintain his role as Javi Varas’ replacement for yet another time. The latter is yet to recover from a finger injury. The other 10 players on the field are likely to retain their spot after successfully teaming up to defeat Sevilla for the third time in five matches.
Analysis
After securing nothing more than a draw in El Clasico two weeks ago, Real Madrid face the same old task: to close in on the stunning eight-point gap that has them four places behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho must get some of his players in the right mood following disappointments during the international break. Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, had a week to forget with Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers. The captain was unable to find his scoring boots in side’s defeat to Russia and draw against Northern Ireland.
Mourinho will also need his men to focus on La Liga despite next week’s UEFA Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. That European fixture promises to be a cracker knowing that Real Madrid have only won one out of 23 matches on German soil.
For now, the attention is on Celta de Vigo. This fixture is a tricky one for hosts Real Madrid. The biggest advantage for Los Blancos is the Santiago Bernabeu factor. At this stadium, Mourinho and his men hardly encounter defeat. But against Celta de Vigo, it is a different affair. Real Madrid have not always been able to shut down the underdogs as the head-to-head factor shows it.
Head-to-head – Last five meetings
February 29, 2004: Real Madrid 4-2 Celta Vigo
September 10, 2005: Real Madrid 2-3 Celta Vigo
January 29, 2006: Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid
November 5, 2006: Real Madrid 1-2 Celta Vigo
April 1, 2007: Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid
Facts
• Celta de Vigo have beaten Real Madrid twice in their last three games at the Santiago Bernabeu.
• Real Madrid have not lost in any of their last four matches in all competitions.
• Celta de Vigo go into Saturday’s match having conceded defeat in each of their last three away fixtures.
Prediction
Real Madrid will edge it, but only just.
Result: Real Madrid 2-0 Celta de Vigo
