Having surpassed Muñoz and Mourinho’s record of consecutive wins, Real Madrid hope to tie with Frank Rijkaard’s record of 18 wins.
Celta will visit the Bernabéu with the boost of having beaten FC Barcelona last month. They are a team with personality and won’t be an easy rival for Real. Without Isco and with the doubt of who will replace him, Carlo Ancelotti will need to be meticulous in order to keep the three points.
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
The usual system, with the only change coming in the midfield. Isco had become a regular next to Kroos and James, and had done a good job during that period. Because of his suspension not being removed, the team needs a player to do his work. Khedira suffered a head trauma in the Copa del Rey, yet he’s been cleared by the medical services. Unless he suddenly relies on Illarramendi, Sami will be the one.
GK: Keylor Navas
Everyone knows the Copa del Rey is Navas’ competition, causing shock when Pacheco put on the gloves on Tuesday. Rumors have been going around that Keylor will play on Saturday and Casillas will do so on Tuesday.
RB: Dani Carvajal
Having rested against Cornellà like many other players, it’s safe to assume he will return versus Celta. He’s been recently giving better performances than Arbeloa. In front of a complicated match, his bulldozer playing style will be of great help.
CB: Pepe
Also returning after a break. Varane and Nacho did a decent job on Tuesday, so him and Ramos shouldn’t get too comfortable. There will be a difficult succession of matches in December and January, making his fitness a priority.
CB: Sergio Ramos
Like his partner, he was able to disconnect for two days. With his upcoming suspension in the Champions League, he will definitely start this match. Ancelotti will expect him to play better than he did at Basel.
LB: Marcelo
Coentrão’s return will be good for Marcelo, as the competition will keep both ready to excel when they play. This is a bigger match and the coach will put his usual offensive full backs in order to support the BBC.
RCM: Sami Khedira
Until he suffered that trauma in the last match, he had been doing an average job. Medrán was the best on the midfield, with Illarra coming in second. However, Sami’s connection with Kroos will be a decisive factor for playing him.
CM: Toni Kroos
He stated recently he was starting to feel a bit fatigued. While two days of rest aren’t enough, Kroos will definitely be needed on Saturday. Fortunately for him, there’s a big chance he won’t even be called up against Ludogorets.
LCM: James Rodríguez
He became the player with most minutes played in the entire squad. He should also be the one asking for a break. Nevertheless, we still see the Colombian performing rather well and even leading the team.
RW: Gareth Bale
His goal in Málaga will do him well, as his detractors were asking him out of the starting 11. There’s no doubt that nobody else on the team can contribute the Welsh’s speed. He’s yet to score against Celta.
ST: Karim Benzema
Gave the team the lead last weekend and played a very good match. He also scored the opener in last year’s home game against Celta. His invisible work will be important for breaking the usually organized Galician defensive line.
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
Compared to the incredible start of the season, we haven’t seen the best CR7 recently. Maybe it’s the obsession with beating records or the Ballon d’Or race. Even so, the stars always come back. He scored a brace against them at the Bernabéu last year.
(4-3-3)
