Real Madrid can assert their position at the top of La Liga when they travel to Real Valladolid on Saturday night.

It hasn’t been a plain sailing campaign for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, with two emphatic defeats to Barcelona and struggles in the Champions League depicting their tactical shortcomings, but the picture suddenly looks quite rosy for the champions.

Their 4-1 victory over Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid’s defeat to Leganes last weekend means Los Blancos hold a two-point lead at the La Liga summit. A 5-1 beatdown of RB Salzburg in midweek means we should see Madrid in the Champions League knockout round play-offs, too.

They’ll be expected to triumph yet again this weekend as they face the division’s basement side. Real Valladolid have won four times in La Liga this term, but a 2-1 defeat at Espanyol last Friday saw them slip to the bottom of the table after an upsurge in form.

The hosts were cast aside by the league leaders in the reverse fixture back in August, with Endrick, who’s barely been seen since, scoring his first Madrid goal in a 3-0 win.

Here is 90min’s guide to Saturday’s La Liga clash.

Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid H2H record (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

A situation has developed in Valladolid regarding 18-year-old Juma Bah, who has garnered the attention of Manchester City. Bah hasn’t turned up to training in a bid to force a move away, and he’s unlikely to be involved this weekend.

The hosts are also without Stanko Juric, who’s suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Eray Comert and Raul Moro are absent through injury.

Real Valladolid predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3): Hein; Perez, Ozkacar, Sanchez, Rosa; Perez, Ndiaye, Martin; Tuhami, Andre, Amallah.

Vinicius Junior has been involved in Madrid’s recent Supercopa, Copa del Rey, and Champions League travails, but he remains suspended in La Liga and won’t be available this weekend.

Rodrygo, who’s been excellent as of late, will shift over to the left flank and either Brahim Diaz or Arda Guler will come into Madrid’s frontline.

David Alaba has been eased back in by Ancelotti since returning from a long-term knee injury, and will likely earn minutes off the bench again in Valladolid. Lucas Vazquez, who was suspended in midweek, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who’s been dealing with a minor issue, should be back in Madrid’s starting lineup on Saturday.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Valladolid (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Brahim, Mbappe, Rodrygo.

Valladolid may be rock bottom of La Liga, but they’ve shown over the past couple of weeks that they can be a tough nut to crack on home soil. 12 of their 15 points have been collected at the José Zorrilla.

Madrid, however, haven’t blinked in the aftermath of their humbling defeat in the Supercopa final. Nine goals in their previous two games suggest this superstar-studded attack has found its groove, but Vini Jr’s absence this weekend doubtlessly reduces their firepower.

The visitors may have to suffer for periods here, but they should pull through with all three points.

Prediction: Real Valladolid 0-2 Real Madrid

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