Summary

  • Real will move to within three points of Atletico Madrid with win

  • Real Madrid are second in La Liga

  • Real Valladolid are 19th in La Liga and are in the relegation zone on goal difference

  1. Bayern beaten; Sancho & Haaland scorepublished at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2021

    .Image source, .

    Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich missed the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga as they lost 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt.

    Daichi Kamada and Amin Younes gave the hosts a two-goal lead at the break.

    Robert Lewandowski tapped in his 26th league goal this term from Leroy Sane's cross to renew hope, but Hansi Flick's side were unable to find an equaliser.

    Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig can cut the lead to two points if they win Sunday's game in hand at Hertha Berlin.

    Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haaland both scored as Borussia Dortmund claimed an emphatic derby win at strugglers Schalke.

    The win saw them move to level on points with fifth-place Bayer Leverkusen.

  2. Atletico defeat gives Real further hopepublished at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2021

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  3. Atletico stunned by Levantepublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2021

    Atletico Madrid 0-2 Levante

    .Image source, Reuters

    Diego Simeone's side suffered their first home defeat in the league since December 2019 as they lost to Levante earlier on Saturday, just a few days after drawing with them in La Liga.

    Jose Luis Morales' striker and Jorge de Frutos' stoppage-time winner proved enough for the Valencian side who survived 28 efforts on their goal without conceding.

    That is now only one win in the past four league games for Atletico.

    Nerves?

    Read the report here.

  4. Isco only senior player on Real benchpublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2021

    Real Valladolid v Real Madrid (20:00 GMT)

    With forward Karim Benzema out injured Mariano Diazto starts up front with Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior the other two in a three-pronged attack.

    Real have several other senior players sidelined including Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal. Isco is the only senior outfield player on the bench.

    Valladolid XI: Masip; Perez, Fernandez, González, Nacho; Alcaraz, Roque Mesa; Jankto, Perez, Orellana; Guardiola.

    Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Asensio, Mariano, Vinicius.

  5. Zidane set for fight to the finishpublished at 19:38 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2021

    Real Valladolid v Real Madrid (20:00 GMT)

    .Image source, Rex Features

    "There's 45 points left to play for and we're focused on the job at hand. We're still in two competitions and we're going to fight to the death in both of them."

    The words of Zinedine Zidane, who would desperately love to close the six-point gap on city rivals Atletico at the top of La Liga. Diego Simeone's side surprisingly lost at home to Levante earlier on Saturday.

    Each slip-up by Los Blancos this season increased the pressure on the French coach although his side appear to have shrugged off recent patchy form which included 'that' ignominious Copa del Rey defeat.

    It's simple: they need to defeat strugglers Valladolid and then try to get something from their Champions League first leg against Atalanta on Wednesday to keep the wolves from Zidane's doors.