Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape La Liga Game
In search of an 18th straight win in all competitions, Real Madrid welcome Celta Vigo to the Bernabeu on Saturday evening.
Despite their purple patch, Los Blancos can't afford any slip-ups—not with Barcelona lurking two points back.
Celta may have lost three games in a row—against Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Las Palmas—but Eduardo Berizzo's men should still represent tough opposition.
The Galicians sit eighth in the table and have lost just three league matches all season.
Over the following slides, we take a look at some of the issues and decisions that may have a bearing on this fixture in the Spanish capital.
Illarramendi in for Isco
1 of 5
Carlo Ancelotti is losing his central midfielders.
First up was Luka Modric's injury while on international duty with Croatia. Now he has to contend with a suspension for Isco as well.
Meanwhile, Sami Khedira has had no end of bad luck over the last 18 months, although he has still won the Champions League and the World Cup in that time period.
It all surmounts to an Asier Illarramendi start on Saturday night.
Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that the former Real Sociedad midfielder will partner Toni Kroos, per Marca, handing him the chance to impress he's been waiting for.
It will be just his second start in La Liga this season—his other one came in the 5-1 win against Elche.
Celta's Big-Game Ability
2 of 5
Having already left the Vicente Calderon and Camp Nou with points this season, Celta Vigo will not be scared by their trip to the Bernabeu.
A week after Atletico Madrid beat Real, they were held to a 2-2 draw by Berizzo's side.
A week after Barcelona were beaten at the Bernabeu, they were toppled at home by a Joaquin Larrivey goal.
In another big game, against Galician rival Deportivo La Coruna, Celta also produced the goods and earned the three points.
As was the case in Catalonia, Sergio Alvarez produced a masterclass in goal.
Celta have been nobody's whipping boys—not yet, anyway.
Madrid's Firepower
3 of 5
They dealt with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but can they deal with the threat posed by Real Madrid's array of attacking options?
Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 20 league goals and will no doubt be itching to score another after he was kept off the scoresheet in Madrid's narrow win over Malaga last weekend.
To put the Portuguese star's goal tally into perspective, Celta have scored just 17 in La Liga this season.
Backing Ronaldo up, Karim Benzema (eight), Gareth Bale (six) and the in-form James Rodriguez (five) will be ready to pounce as well.
In total, Los Blancos have had 10 different players score in the Primera Division this season.
There's only so much defenders can do against that attack.
Celta will need goalkeeper Alvarez, the man they call the Cat of Catoira, per Sid Lowe in The Guardian, to stand extremely tall.
Orellana, Larrivey, Nolito
4 of 5
They're not as internationally recognised, nor do they score as many goals, but Celta Vigo possess their own tricky trio of forwards.
Nolito has received the most notoriety recently.
Called up and capped by Spain following his dazzling form, the 28-year-old has struck five times in the league and has produced five more assists as well.
Then comes Joaquin Larrivey—the man who hit the winning goal against Barcelona.
A summer signing from Rayo Vallecano, the Argentine striker has already scored seven goals for his new club.
Completing the trio is diminutive Chilean international Fabian Orellana.
Orellana has contributed less, with just three goals, but he carries a more unpredictable threat.
Madrid, who have kept eight clean sheets in their last 12 matches, can't afford to switch off on Saturday evening.
Jese Won't Decide the Game
5 of 5
One man who won't be able to affect this game is Jese Rodriguez.
After nine months sidelined by injury, the Canary Islander returned on Tuesday night to score the fifth goal in Real Madrid's 5-0 win over UE Cornella in the Copa del Rey.
However, Ancelotti has decided his return to match fitness will be slow and steady and has left him out of his squad.
The 21-year-old will perhaps instead be able to count on some more minutes against Ludogorets in the Champions League in midweek.
Alvaro Medran, the 20-year-old midfielder for Real Madrid Castilla, has been included instead.
