Real Madrid vs. Granada: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
Real Madrid will welcome Granada to the Bernabeu for the early kick-off on Sunday, with La Liga ready to enter its final stretch following the March international break.
For Sunday's hosts, the interruption to the domestic season came at the right time. With just one victory in the club's last five games and having lost six times already in 2015, the international break will have given some respite to Real Madrid's players and coaching staff, who've found themselves under significant pressure since January.
Now gearing up for a final push for the league title, the return of James Rodriguez will be a significant boost for Los Blancos. Unseen since breaking a bone in his right foot against Sevilla in early February, Marca have reported the Colombian will take his place in the starting XI against Granada.
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Rodriguez will likely take Isco's spot in Carlo Ancelotti's team, with the Spaniard suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Barcelona. Also in attack, Gareth Bale's status is uncertain, after he suffered a muscle strain during Wales' victory over Israel.
Elsewhere, Ancelotti will likely be forced into a change in defence, with Pepe in doubt due to a thigh injury picked up in El Clasico at the Camp Nou. After two starts with France during the international break, Raphael Varane will likely be called in as cover.
Granada, meanwhile, will arrive at the Bernabeu stuck in the relegation zone, having won just four games all season (only Cordoba have won fewer) and without a league win away from home in more than six months.
Of course, the bulk of the Andalusians' problems have come in front of goal. Across 28 games in La Liga this season, Los Nazaries have found the back of the net only 18 times, leaving them as the lowest scorers in the division.
Such a difficult season has already seen Joaquin Caparros lose his position as manager, and though his replacement, Abel Resino, believes the players have experienced "positive sensations" since his arrival, as reported by Inside Spanish Football, points have remained difficult to come by.
For Sunday's clash with the European champions, Granada will hope defender Jeison Murillo can prove his fitness after suffering a knock while on international duty with Colombia.
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 11 a.m. BST / 6 a.m. EDT / 12 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| L: 1-2 vs. Barcelona | D: 0-0 vs. Eibar |
| W: 2-0 vs. Levante | L: 1-3 vs. Rayo Vallecano |
| L: 3-4 vs. Schalke | W: 1-0 vs. Malaga |
| L: 0-1 vs. Athletic Bilbao | L: 1-3 vs. Barcelona |
| D: 1-1 vs. Villarreal | L: 1-2 vs. Levante |
| W: 2-0 vs. Elche | D: 0-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao |
Predicted Formations
Players to Watch
Naturally, it will be Rodriguez's long-awaited return that will be of most interest for Real Madrid on Sunday. A genuine goal threat, a playmaker by trade and an extremely versatile asset for Ancelotti, Los Blancos have been short on creativity in attack without the World Cup sensation.
With Isco set to miss the game through suspension and Bale's fitness in doubt, Rodriguez's re-emergence comes at a perfect time. And for Real Madrid to make a significant push to overhaul Barcelona in the title race, the Colombian's goals and assists will be absolutely vital.
For Granada, Manuel Iturra could come back into Resino's XI at the Bernabeu to give the visitors more steel in central areas.
A strong defensive midfielder who's an effective tackler and ball-winner, the Chilean could displace Ruben Perez—the 25-year-old midfielder on loan from Atletico Madrid, who's formed the base of Granada's midfield alongside Fran Rico in recent weeks.
If the relegation-bound outfit have any chance of taking points away from the Bernabeu, Iturra's ability to disrupt the home side's attacking sequences will be crucial.
Key Battle
On several occasions this season, we've seen Real Madrid concede shots and goals at the Bernabeu directly from mistakes in their own half.
Sergio Ramos has been guilty of it. So has Varane. And the same for Pepe.
At times, the errors have have been completely unforced, while others have been due to consistent pressing by the opposition's forwards. And the blunders tend to be exposed more regularly at home, given the full-backs are often well advanced and unable to cover the slip-up.
On Sunday, it's likely to be Granada's Jhon Cordoba who will be positioned to capitalise on any defensive errors from Ramos and Varane. A powerful and athletic forward, the former Espanyol striker has the capacity to pressure Los Blancos' defensive pairing and pounce on turnovers and loose balls.
Consistent harassment will be the key for the Colombian, and Granada will be hoping one small lapse from the home side changes the game.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 1/14
Draw: 9/1
Granada: 20/1
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