Thegoalmac can reveal that Real Madrid will be expected to continue their stunning recent form as they head to Granada in La Liga on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have won 10 consecutive games in all
competitions - most recently dispatching third-tier Cornella 4-1 in the
opening game of their Copa del Rey defence on Wednesday.
Raphael Varane scored twice in Catalonia as a makeshift Madrid side
went in at the break 2-1 up - part-time electrician Oscar Munoz
equalising the first of the Frenchman's headers to give neutrals hope of
a shock result.
Javier Hernandez and Marcelo netted after the interval to secure the
comfortable scoreline, which Real will defend in the tie's second leg in
December.
As attentions switch back to matters in the league, another victory
on the weekend will see Ancelotti rack up the longest winning streak of
his career.
Cristiano Ronaldo was rested for the Copa trip and his usually
supreme confidence will have been even further boosted with a goal in
last week's 3-1 Clasico success, being named La Liga's best player at a
midweek awards ceremony and his subsequent naming on the Ballon d'Or
shortlist this week - another gong he is odds-on favourite to win.
Ronaldo has helped Real score 23 goals in recent wins against four of
the league's bottom six and 14th-placed Granada are not in the kind of
form which suggests they will provide a stern test.
Granada snapped a four-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw at Eibar
last weekend but a run of three goals scored in their last seven games
will do little to worry Real's defence.
Real first-teamers Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Luka Modric and
Toni Kroos were all afforded a rest in midweek, along with Portugal
star Ronaldo.
That ensures Ancelotti has plenty of options at his disposal this
weekend, though Gareth Bale is still recovering from a hip muscle
injury.
The Italian has rightly been high on confidence this week but was
forced to defend his team's tactics after Barcelona legend Xavi blasted
them for only counterattacking during the Clasico.
Ancelotti responded to the Barca captain's claims: "That's his opinion, that of a great player.
"Real Madrid's counter is tremendous but you also have to have control of the game and pressure well.
"That is what we did against Barcelona. I don't see it as a lack of
respect, it's the opinion of a player who has extraordinary experience."

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