Real Madrid fixture analysis for the 2016-17 season

Zinedine Zidane faces his biggest test in his short yet successfull managerial spell at Real Madrid

March:

Two home games against relegation battlers, Real Betis and Las Palmas are expected to be convincing victories for Madrid. Away games to Eibar and Athletic Bilbao seem to be difficult to get through with all three points. The teams fighting for their survival are always tough to beat at the end of the campaign, so Madrid must be wary of these sides who can cause a upset.

April:

April is the busiest month in the La Liga as it features a staggering seven fixtures for every team. Away games to Leganes, Sporting Gijon and Deportivo are definite nine points along with home games against Alaves and Valencia. The remaining two encounters at the Bernabeu will decide the La Liga champion for the 2016-17 season.

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona come calling as Real faces their biggest tests in the month of April. With these games being in the final few matches of the season, expect one of the three teams to suffer from fatigue. Barca almost lost out the title to Real last time around because of their three defeats in the month of April. Real must avoid this if they want to take the trophy back to the capital.

May:

Sevilla will be the last team to visit Bernabeu this season and Real will hope to give their fans one last chance to celebrate a victory at home. Away game to Granada starts the month of May whereas the Los Blancos end their season away to Malaga which means that probably Real will go unbeaten in their final few games of the season.

Predicted finish : 2nd

Real have the firepower to fight for the title till the end but they may just fall short because of their inactivity in the summer transfer window. The team has just one holding midfielder which can be a issue in an usual busy year for the Madrid club. Barca have the strength in depth to out muscle Real in the fight for La Liga crown. A lot rides on the hope that Real don't get injuries on their way as they look to stop Barca from winning three League titles on a trot.

This could finally be the year where Gareth Bale can break the shackles of Cristiano Ronaldo's domination at the club and announce himself as Real's new numero uno. He did splendidly well in the Euros and is expected to have a goal laden 2016-17 season for Real Madrid.