Carlo Ancelotti's side had been far from clinical in front of intention lately their clean in the 1-zero defeat by means of PSG on Tuesday the third time in four suits they have did not rating. This goal drought has additionally contributed to the bad run of form with simply one win of their remaining 5 suits in all competitions.
Whilst talismanic striker Karim Benzema lower back to the starting line-up in opposition to PSG he appeared understandably rusty after being out injured considering the fact that January 23. In the absence of the French worldwide, who tops the membership scoring list with 24 in all competitions this time period, his Brazilian strike companion Vinicius Junior has looked a chunk misplaced.
Although they keep a four point lead over Sevilla who are away at Espanyol on Sunday goals and the factors besides would be most welcome for Ancelotti and his side on Saturday. The drying up of dreams and their shape could also be in part to do with a trouble that the Italian coach noticed against PSG a lack of carrier from midfield.
However, even the typically unflappable Ancelotti became stunned by means of the failure of his midfield to offer some thing for Benzema and Vinicius Jr and said he wanted to see a extra effective overall performance on Saturday. "Normally we do no longer have as many troubles as that during presenting the carrier whilst we press difficult, but there (in Paris) we failed," he said.
Real's woes are relative to that of metropolis opponents and defending champions Atletico Madrid, whose decade long love affair with instruct Diego Simeone is displaying signs and symptoms of fraying at the edges. The today's alarm bell rang on Wednesday as they became only the second aspect to lose to backside club Levante this term, their seventh defeat of the marketing campaign, and neglected a golden possibility to move back above Barcelona into the Champions League places in fourth spot.
Simeone's facet journey to mid-table Osasuna on Saturday at the same time as Barcelona, who are on 39 points like Atletico but in advance of them on aim difference, are away at Valencia on Sunday.
Barca cross into the game at the returned of a 1-1 draw at home to Napoli inside the Europa League on Thursday but with veteran defender Gerard Pique advocated by using the overall performance and what it bodes for the destiny. However, the 35-12 months-vintage concedes that like their sour rivals Real Madrid the desires want to drift too if they're to gain something this season. "The emotions are properly from that overall performance," said Pique. "When the desires start to roll in, the entirety will come together for us."
Saturday
Granada v Villarreal (14:00), Osasuna v Atletico Madrid (sixteen:15), Cadiz v Getafe (18:30), Real Madrid v Alaves (21:00)
Sunday
