Real Madrid occupied a familiar position at the top of La Liga (LL) following matchday 14 after beating Cádiz 3-0, but they were level on points with Girona at the summit. Manager Carlo Ancelotti then overcame one of his former clubs in midweek when they beat Napoli 4-2 in the Champions League, topping their group as their unbeaten run reached 12 matches in all competitions (W10, D2).
Rodrygo and Joselu finding some form in midweek should help alleviate the pressure on Los Blancos, who are still without several key players as they look to extend an 11-game undefeated league run at the Bernabéu (W9, D2). Nineteen-year-old Nico Paz has stepped up in the absence of those key men, scoring what was ultimately the decisive goal in midweek, and Ancelotti paid tribute to the strength of his squad while confirming that the same group would be ready to take on Granada.
There’ll be little relief for the visitors even if they’ll be spared coming up against the likes of Vinícius Júnior and Thibaut Courtois, as they haven’t won a league game since late August (D4, L7) and sacked manager Paco López following Friday’s 3-1 defeat to Alavés. History would suggest his replacement, Uruguayan Alexander Medina, has a tough start as Granada haven’t beaten Madrid since February 2013 (L14).
Only a winless Almería are keeping Granada off the foot of the table, but the former Cádiz striker likes to hit the ground running as he started his last three jobs at Vélez Sarsfield, Internacional and Talleres by avoiding defeat in his opening game (W2, D1). Doing so here would arguably be more impressive than those performances given Granada have lost the last 11 away H2Hs since winning 1-0 here in January 1974.
Players to watch: After scoring in second-half stoppage time against Napoli, his fifth club home goal this term to arrive after half-time, Joselu took the unusual step to apologise to Real fans for missing other chances. Also a fan of striking late, Granada’s Myrto Uzuni has completed the scoring in two of their last four league games.
Hot stat: Granada are one of two teams yet to keep a LL clean sheet this term.
