Real Madrid line up against Celta Vigo

11:26am on Friday 19th March 2021
By Team FC

Real Madrid will be looking to keep the pressure on league-leaders Atletico Madrid over the weekend when they take on Celta Vigo in La Liga.

After struggling in the opening weeks of the current campaign, Zinedine Zidane's men have been putting in some improved performances of late and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 games when they travel to the Estadio de Balaidos on Saturday.

The reigning Spanish champions have closed the gap at the top of the table to six points as Diego Simone's side continue to stutter, and another victory would keep their league hopes alive.

A convincing 3-1 aggregate win of Serie A outfit Atalanta in the Champions League earlier in the week will have provided another much-needed confidence boost to Los Blancos ahead of this one as key players appear to be finding their best form at just the right time.

Star striker Karim Benzema has bagged four goals in three games since returning to the side following a spell on the treatment table with an adductor injury and is expected to lead the line once again.

One man who definitely won't be joining him in Madrid's front three is Eden Hazard. The Belgium international has had a torrid time with injuries since joined the Bernabeu outfit from Chelsea 18 months ago and is facing another spell on the sidelines with a muscle problem.

Therefore, Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio are likely to feature either side of Benzema after the former Mallorca man scored his first goal since January last time out.

The midfield could have a familiar feel to it as Casemiro is available for selection once again after missing the midweek match through suspension, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric rolling back the years in recent weeks, putting in a string of solid displays.

Zidane has a slight problem at right-back as Dani Carvajal is ruled out with a muscular injury and second-choice Alvaro Odriozola is also unavailable after picking up a knock.

He's likely to turn to the experienced and versatile Lucas Vazquez to deputise and form a back four alongside Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Ferland Mendy, ahead of the virtually ever-present Thibaut Courtois.