Real Madrid vs. Elche: Key Issues That Will Shape La Liga Game
After returning to winning ways in La Liga against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday afternoon, Real Madrid welcome Elche to the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.
In 20 visits, Elche have never won a game at Madrid's home ground in Spain's top flight. However, they have mustered three draws, as reported by Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish).
In the same fixture last season, Los Blancos ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale and Isco.
Once again, having already lost two league matches this season, Carlo Ancelotti knows his side can ill-afford any more dropped points.
The following slides take a look at the key issues that will shape the match.
How Many Can Real Madrid Score?
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Five goals against Basel in the Champions League and eight against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend means Real Madrid enter Tuesday's match with Elche having scored 13 goals in their last two fixtures.
How many can we expect them to score this time out?
If their forwards once again turn up with their scoring boots on—Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Javier Hernandez all chipped in against Depor—it should be another comfortable win.
Karim Benzema, too, will be keen to add to his one league goal this season.
It won't matter how well prepared Elche are. If Madrid turn up in top form, we should be prepared for another high-scoring encounter.
Can Elche Attack a Wobbly Madrid Defence?
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Elche have conceded eight goals in their four matches in the league—only three teams have conceded more—so Madrid are entitled to believe there are goals to be had.
Fortunately for Elche, Los Blancos have also leaked eight goals in La Liga this season.
Not since the 2-0 win against Cordoba in the first game of the season have Ancelotti's men managed a clean sheet, so there is reason for Tuesday's visitors to have some optimism.
On top of that, Alvaro de la Rosa of Madrid-based paper AS suggests Real could be without their preferred centre-backs:
"Pepe still has not returned to full training as he recovers from a muscle strain and Sergio Ramos on Monday remained inside the installations at Real Madrid's Valdebebas complex while his teammates took to the pitches.
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They might be liable at the back themselves, but with the right frame of mind, Fran Escriba's team can cause problems at the Bernabeu.
Have Madrid Found Their Midfield Balance?
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After rushing into a 2-0 lead at Real Sociedad earlier this season, Real Madrid imploded—particularly in the middle of the park.
Marca suggest Carlo Ancelotti has learned from that collapse in San Sebastian, though:
"At Riazor, the manager was set on not putting his foot in it again. This time round, the Italian was spot on. After Depor's first goal, the Real manager took Benzema off and sent Illarramendi on.
This decision changed the game completely, and the manager is well aware of it. A subtle piece of engineering that gave him back something dear to him, something he worked so hard to find last season. Balance.
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However, despite this balance arriving, it suggests Illarramendi was needed to restore it and that a duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric don't necessarily provide it.
In many ways, they work brilliantly together, but do they provide defensive qualities?
The Changes Carlo Ancelotti Decides to Make
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After Javier Hernandez scored two goals against Deportivo, Ancelotti faced questions concerning whether the Mexico international will start against Elche.
The Italian confirmed he would make some changes.
"We'll change something [on Tuesday]," Real Madrid TV's Phil Kitromilides confirmed Ancelotti as saying.
Could too many changes destabilise a side that has scored 13 goals in their last two matches?
It's unlikely, but a perceived weaker team would give Elche a little extra confidence.
Unfortunately for them, the players likely to come in are Asier Illarramendi and Isco, among others.
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