Two clubs in opposite halves of the Spanish Liga BBVA table will do battle today in a league match between Málaga and Real Madrid. The first-division clash scheduled for 3 p.m. ET will be held at La Rosaleda in Málaga and can be live streamed here free.
For Real Madrid, focus remains key when they visit Los Boquerones on Sunday. An epic confrontation with Barcelona is just a week away, but Madrid must avoid the trap of a Málaga side currently sitting 13th in the table. Maintaining their three-point lead over Atlético Madrid and four-point lead over Barcelona is of the utmost importance if the club hopes to capture another league title.
Carlo Ancelotti believes his men are well aware of that fact (h/t to Marca). "I trust the players," Ancelotti said. "We all understand that this is a very important game. We have said many times that at this point of the season all games are important. Against Málaga we have to play with the same attitude, intensity and concentration that we did against Levante," he added.
"We are not talking about the Clasico. We are convinced that the game to be played is against Málaga. After that we will have the Champions League."
Will Real Madrid maintain their focus, or will they stumble into El Clásico? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Stepping in for the suspended Sergio Ramos is Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. The 20-year-old has been battling an injury-plagued season, but expects to add to his six league appearances on Sunday.
Malaga's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Antunes, Ferreira, Sánchez, Angeleri; Tissone, Camacho; Amrabat, Duda, Samuel; Cruz
Real Madrid's Projected Lineup (4-3-3): López; Marcelo, Pepe, Varane, Carvajal; Di Maria, Alonso, Modric; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale
(h/t to WhoScored)
| Rnk | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
| 1 | Real Madrid | 27 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 76 | 26 | 50 | 67 |
| 2 | Atlético Madrid | 27 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 21 | 42 | 64 |
| 3 | FC Barcelona | 27 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 74 | 22 | 52 | 63 |
| 4 | Athletic Club | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 31 | 19 | 51 |
| 5 | Villarreal CF | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 33 | 14 | 44 |
| 6 | Real Sociedad | 27 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 36 | 10 | 43 |
| 7 | Sevilla FC | 27 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 47 | 42 | 5 | 41 |
| 8 | Valencia CF | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 39 | 38 | 1 | 36 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 36 |
| 10 | Levante | 27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 26 | 34 | -8 | 36 |
| 11 | Celta de Vigo | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 32 | 39 | -7 | 30 |
| 12 | Granada CF | 27 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 30 |
| 13 | Málaga CF | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 35 | -9 | 29 |
| 14 | Osasuna | 27 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 39 | -15 | 29 |
| 15 | Elche CF | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 40 | -16 | 29 |
| 16 | Getafe CF | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 23 | 42 | -19 | 27 |
| 17 | Real Valladolid | 27 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 29 | 44 | -15 | 26 |
| 18 | UD Almería | 27 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 46 | -23 | 26 |
| 19 | Rayo Vallecano | 27 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 26 | 59 | -32 | 26 |
| 20 | Real Betis | 27 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 56 | -33 | 18 |
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