Levante vs. Real Madrid: Key Issues That Will Shape Liga Game
It was an untimely international break for Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid, who had just won six straight matches in all competitions.
Defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid cast an early shadow over their season, but the wins—and the goals, lots of goals—soon reappeared to establish the European champions as challengers on all fronts.
Having that rhythm interrupted wasn't ideal, but it’s been the same for all of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Ancelotti now has all his players back, though, and the Italian will be hoping he can keep his players focused on Saturday's match against a Levante side who've won just once this season.
Because it is certainly true that minds may be wondering elsewhere ahead of a hugely important week in Madrid's season.
Here are some of the issues which could shape this weekend's clash between Levante and Real Madrid.
Managing the Workload
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"How to prepare for the toughest of weeks and not slip up?" asks Marca journalist Pablo Polo.
He is, of course, referring to the schedule of fixtures that face Real Madrid over the coming eight days.
On Saturday they might be in Levante, but it will be difficult for players to keep their minds off their next two matches: Liverpool, at Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Barcelona the following Saturday at the Bernabeu.
Polo goes on to suggest that will lead to Carlo Ancelotti making several changes in Valencia.
Javier Hernandez, Isco and Asier Illarramendi are among the players he suggests will be handed a start.
Will Levante be able to take advantage of a weakened Madrid side?
Recovering the Internationals
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Even if Carlo Ancelotti does make the predicted changes, he will still be bringing in players who have been away with their various countries.
Javier Hernandez has been involved in matches for Mexico against Honduras and Panama, while Isco formed part of the Spain U21 side that lost its playoff match against Serbia for next summer's U21 European Championships.
Elsewhere, all the other usual faces—Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo etc—have also been on international duty.
Fortunately, Los Blancos don't appear to be suffering from the FIFA virus—Sergio Ramos was injured before the break—but managing the returning players is always a challenge.
They've all been playing in different systems, to different degrees of success, and it is normal for sides with lots of internationals to appear slightly sluggish immediately after a break.
Ciutat De Valencia
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Atletico Madrid's title charge took a blow at Levante last season when they were beaten 2-0, allowing Barcelona and Real Madrid back into the race.
It wasn't particularly surprising, though, given the difficulties Spain's top sides regularly encounter at the Ciutat de Valencia.
Los Blancos are not an exception to the rule.
Last season's trip east was especially tricky, although Carlo Ancelotti's men somehow managed to leave with the three points.
Nabil El Zhar's 86th minute strike looked to have handed Levante the win, only for stoppage time goals from Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo to scrape Madrid over the line.
Another late strike from Morata had earned them maximum points the year prior to that, too, while Arouna Kone's strike gave Les Granotes a narrow and surprise victory in 2011-12.
It was goalless in 2010-11.
Madrid will surely be aware that their trip to the Ciutat de Valencia on Saturday will not be an afternoon stroll.
Keylor or Iker
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It's a laboured discussion and it certainly receives too many column inches at the moment, but there is a particular reason to bring up the Iker Casillas or Keylor Navas debate ahead of Real Madrid's trip to Levante.
The Costa Rican spent three years with the Valencia-based side—the first on loan as No. 2 goalkeeper—before Madrid paid his buyout clause this past summer.
He will no doubt be keen to be part of the side which takes on his former colleagues.
Casillas fumbled for Slovakia's opening goal in Spain's recent defeat and was replaced by Manchester United's David de Gea for the next game against Luxembourg.
Despite that, he should still be, due to his top-level experience, Carlo Ancelotti's pick for the matches against Liverpool and Barcelona.
Levante, though, could be left to Navas—will he return to haunt his former employers?
