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| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
SEVILLA  Varas Coke, Spahic, Fazio, Navarro Medel Navas, Rakitic, Trochowski, Manu Negredo | REAL MADRID  Casillas Diarra, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Khedira, Sahin Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo Higuain |
Jose Mourinho's side quietly got back on track after the Clasico defeat to Barcelona by professionally dispatching Segunda B side Ponferradina in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, but it is back to La Liga duties as they face Sevilla.
The only Madrid player ruled out of the match is Ricardo Carvalho, who is still sidelined with a back injury. Eight first-team players were left out of the squad for the cup match, but the likes of Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, and Iker Casillas will all return for league duty.
Sevilla are still sweating over the fitness of Argentine winger Diego Perotti, who is still sidelined with the hamstring injury he suffered in the 3-0 victory over Getafe at the start of December.
Marcelino looks set to name an unchanged side from the last Liga match, in which he saw his side go down to fourth placed Levante.
Sevilla are still sweating over the fitness of Argentine winger Diego Perotti, who is still sidelined with the hamstring injury he suffered in the 3-0 victory over Getafe at the start of December.
Marcelino looks set to name an unchanged side from the last Liga match, in which he saw his side go down to fourth placed Levante.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last match between Sevilla and Real Madrid was a thrilling encounter in which Jose Mourinho's side emerged with a 6-2 victory in Andalucia.
- Sevilla have scored 16 goals in La Liga so far this season, well under half of the 50 goals Madrid have notched.
- However, Marcelino's men have conceded just 11 goals so far, two less than Real Madrid. This is the second best record in the league, behind Barcelona.
- Real Madrid's last defeat against Sevilla was back in 2009, when they lost 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals in the league this season than the entire Sevilla squad.
- Madrid's Clasico defeat to Barcelona was the first time since the start of the 2009-10 campaign that they have lost after taking the lead in a La Liga match.
Real Madrid will be looking to take full advantage of their game in hand over Barcelona and go three points clear in La Liga. However, Sevilla will be stern opposition as Marcelino's side have conceded the second-lowest amount of goals in the league. Expect a tough midfield battle with the home side perhaps grabbing a goal, but Jose Mourinho's men should earn a comfortable victory in the end.
Editor's Prediction
Sevilla 1-3 Real Madrid 
