5 Things to look forward to between Real Madrid and Granada

Real Madrid started their season with a drab 0-0 draw against Sporting Gijon, but their season has just been a blur of goals since. Both James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale looked in smashing form as Real put 5 past Real Betis. The baton would then be passed on to Ronaldo who himself scored 5 times against Espanyol in his side’s 6-0 victory playing away.Following that Rafael Benitez’s men went on to obliterate their Champions League opponents Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 and now they face Granada at home in the La Liga. Regardless of the opponent, Madrid on current form will be formidable opponents for any side.As Real Madrid get ready to host the Nazaríes, let us look up to the 5 things that one can expect from Cristiano and co. and their opponents going into the match held the Santiago Bernabeu! Real go into this match at the back of 3 huge victories. Another win on the cards for Los Blancos?

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo\'s records

Cristiano Ronaldo is just 2 goals shy of becoming Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer

The former Napoli manager has spoken of how important is the Portuguese captain to his Real side. He went on to say that the former United superstar is Blancos’ Paul Gasol.

Cristiano is just 2 goals short of The Whites’ top scorer, Raul Gonzalez Blanco’s 323-goals tally. After having joined The Galacticos in the summer of 2009, the Real Madrid superstar has gone on to net 321 times for The Blancos having made 304 appearances. Ronaldo will reach yet another landmark in today’s game if he scores a goal, which seems a pretty sure case evident from his 8 goals in the last two games.

The former Sporting star is 1 just goal shy of 500 career goals, for club and country combined. And, looking at Real’s attacking prowess going up front and Ronaldo’s quintuple against Granada last season at the Bernabeu, one can surely expect the Galactico star to notch up the records at stake!

#2 How will Madrid cope without Bale?

Gareth Bale suffered a calf injury against Shakhtar

New season, same old story. Gareth Bale had finally started to tick after an indifferent last season with the Whites but is out with a calf injury, and a timetable for his return to the side is yet to be stated.

With the likes of James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane sidelined with injuries, Benitez will have working to do in order to field a team to outplay Granada at the Bernabeau.

Anything other than a win could see Real facing an uphill task in the title race with Barcelona already leading Blancos by 2 points and facing an easy battle against Levante later this gameweek. No doubt Benitez has a talented squad at his disposal, but the question is whether he can field a squad strong enough to beat the Nazaríes?

#3 Granada defensive woes

3 matches. 7 goals conceded.

Looking back at the last encounter between Real Madrid and Granada, one can easily recall the 9 goals put past El Graná’s stopper, including Ronaldo’s quintuple. This season Granada has been far from impressive at the back having conceded 7 in the last 3 matches, though they have been equally threatening going upfront.

Sandoval’s men have been very weary at defence and ever-attacking Real’s line up will be too much to take for Nazaríes’ back four. Given Real’s firepower, though depleted slightly, will pose the major threat for the away side as they will try to come away with something from the Bernabeu.

#4 Navas could make history

Keylor Navas has been outstanding for Real so far

Real Madrid’s new No.1 has been in outstanding form and has managed to keep 4 clean sheets in 4 consecutive matches this season, which is a new Madrid record. In the beginning of this season after the departure of Blancos’ legend Iker Casillas, there were doubts if the Costa Rican was the right man to fill in the Spanish captain’s shoes.

After having failed to sign De Gea in this transfer window, Real have stuck by Navas as their No.1. The Costa Rican has reciprocated it with outstanding performances by keeping 4 clean sheets in the last 4 matches.

While the Costa Rican keeper has equaled Miguel Angel’s record from the 1975-76 season, one more will put him out ahead on his own.

#5 Kovacic to make impact?

Kovacic made a £25m switch to Real Madrid this summer

After having made a £25m switch to Santiago Bernabeu this summer, Kovacic is yet to feature in starting XI. The former Internazionale star has appeared in previous matches as a substitute coming from the bench.

With Bale and Rodriguez injured, the Madrid gaffer may see Kovacic as a potential replacement in the Real Madrid line-up along with Isco. The Croatian can offer Real Madrid a lot, and situations like this offer him the best opportunity to announce his coming to the one of the greatest clubs in the world, and impress the Spanish coach and the Bernabeu faithful alike.