(Football news) Real Madrid are 4 points behind 2nd placed Sevilla with the same amount of games played. Los Blancos will be high on confidence having just won the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey round of 16. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on the other hand lost the Super Cup semi finals and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey round of 16. 

Real Madrid will once again play Elche but this time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid with 10 men won 2-1 at the end of extra time when these two teams met on Thursday in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie. Carlo Ancelotti will have Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema back in the squad while Luka Modric and Casemiro should come back into the starting XI. Dani Carvajal, Mariano and Marco Asensio are still unavailable while Gareth Bale could get a few minutes after recovering from an injury. 

After the disappointment of the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup, Atletico Madrid will take on Valencia. Atleti are currently 4th in the La Liga table and have won only 1 of their last 6 games in the league. Diego Simeone will be without Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann and Geoffrey Kondogbia while Angel Correa's involvement is doubtful. The Rojiblancos need a turnaround and they need it quick. After trying the 4-3-3 in the Copa del Rey Simeone might go back to playing two strikers up front. 

Barcelona's season is getting worse now that they are out of the Copa del Rey. They travel away to Deportivo Alaves next up. Eric García, Samuel Umtiti and Sergi Roberto are still not fit while Memphis Depay is doubtful. Ansu Fati picked up another injury and is expected to be out for a long time. Martin Braithwaite could return to the starting XI after his return from injury. Xavi might be looking to select a few of his key players after playing his full strength side in the Copa del Rey.

Also read: Athletic Club edge Barcelona to book their place in the Copa del Rey last 8