Real Madrid will look to pressure leaders Barcelona when they host a struggling Elche at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Trailing their arch-rivals by four points with just 11 games remaining, Los Blancos have no room for error.
Elche, meanwhile, will be fighting to avoid slipping into the bottom three by the end of the weekend.
Read our Real Madrid vs Elche prediction, preview and betting tips with odds from bet365. You can also check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
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Real Madrid vs Elche key stats
- Elche are currently on an 11-match winless streak across all competitions.
- Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 16 clashes with Elche.
- Ten of Elche's last 11 games produced goals at both ends.
Real Madrid vs Elche preview: Business as usual for Madrid?
| Real Madrid | vs | Elche |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Position | 17th |
| 63 | Points | 26 |
| 56 | Goals For | 35 |
| 23 | Goals Against | 41 |
| 11 | Clean Sheets | 6 |
| 4th | Home Rank | 9th |
| 1st | Away Rank | 20th |
*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.
Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie a few days ago.
Alvaro Arbeloa's men will turn their attention to La Liga, where they trail leaders Barcelona by four points.
Real Madrid have conceded fewer goals than every other team in La Liga this season.
It is worth mentioning that Los Blancos were victorious in seven of their last nine matches and have eight wins in their last nine home games across all competitions.
Currently plagued with injuries, Real Madrid witnessed Ferland Mendy picking up a fresh muscle problem during Wednesday's victory over Manchester City. The Frenchman has been in and out of the treatment room this season, and his recent setback adds another salty layer to the team's injury plight.
Rodrygo Goes (ACL), Eder Militao (tendon), Jude Bellingham (hamstring), and Dani Ceballos (calf) are definitely ruled out of this game, while Kylian Mbappe (knee), Alvaro Carreras (calf), and David Alaba (muscle) remain touch and go this weekend. Summer arrival Franco Mastantuono is also unavailable due to suspension.
Real Madrid have scored 11 goals from the spot - the highest in the Spanish top flight this season.
Elche, on the other hand, are coming off a 2-1 defeat against local rivals Villarreal. They are now without a win in 11 consecutive games and have lost five consecutive away matches across all competitions.
Interestingly, the visitors are in danger of falling into the relegation zone this weekend, as they lead 18th-placed Mallorca by only one point.
Head coach Eder Sarabia will have to do without Hector Fort for this game due to a shoulder problem, but the Barcelona loanee is expected to be back for the team in the coming week.
Also, Pedro Bigas and John Donald are both doubtful for this trip to the capital due to physical discomfort and muscular issues, respectively.
Real Madrid vs Elche form guide & betting tips
| Real Madrid | vs | Elche |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-L-L-W | Form | L-D-L-D-L |
| 9 | Points | 2 |
| 5th | Form Table | 17th |
| 9 | Goals For | 5 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 9 |
Best bookie to bet on Real Madrid vs Elche – bet365
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Whispers Predicts: Real Madrid 3-1 Elche
At 1.30, Real Madrid are priced as favourites by bet365, and given Elche's abysmal run of results, we can see why.
Although Elche have no wins in 11 consecutive matches, they have found the net in 15 of their last 15 games, so a BTTS - Yes bet at 1.75 could be worth a punt.
We also fancy our chances of over 3.5 total goals, as three of the last four H2Hs went above this line. This option can be backed at 2.10.
Furthermore, Real Madrid & BTTS - Yes at 2.50 is also worth considering, given that Elche suffered five defeats in their last seven games while scoring in each loss.
> BTTS - Yes at 1.75 | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 3.5 goals at 2.10 | Likelihood: Probable
> HT result - Real Madrid at 1.70 | Likelihood: Probable
> Real Madrid & BTTS - Yes at 2.50 | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score: 3-1 at 10.00 | Likelihood: Outsider