"Operation 30" will take it's next step on Wednesday. The clash between Real Madrid and Almeria scheduled for 2 p.m. ET will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and can be live streamed here free. Additional TV coverage can be found on beIN Sports.

What's At Stake

Barcelona refuses to back down. A 6-0 undressing of Getafe on Tuesday opened the lead in La Liga's table to five points. Now, Real Madrid must respond.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti readily admitted in his pre-match press conference that every match is a matter of life and death.

"All the games are [important]," Ancelotti said (via Inside Spanish Football). "We will approach this match with that mentality. This is going to be an important fixture. A tricky and challenging game. We are entering into a stage of the season in which all our encounters will determine the outcome of the future."

"We are focused on this match and are aware of how difficult the remaining games are," he added. "We are going to try to be at our best. The team are in good shape, playing well and we can play with full intensity for the final stage of the season."

The In-Form Player

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is carrying Madrid. The 26-year-old, boasting six goals and two assists, is averaging a league goal every 83 minutes.

Projected Lineups

Real Madrid (4-4-2): Navas; Marcelo, Pepe, Varane, Arbeloa; Isco, Kroos, Illarramendi, Rodriguez; Hernandez, Ronaldo

Almeria (4-2-3-1): Ruben; Dubarbier, Santos, Trujillo, Navarro; Verza, Partey; Espinosa, Corona, Jonathan; Hemed

Updated League Table

RnkTeamMPWDLGFGA+/-Pts
1FC Barcelona34273497197884
2Real Madrid CF33261699306979
3Atlético Madrid33226564263872
4Valencia CF33208560253568
5Sevilla FC33206760372366
6Villarreal CF331411844301453
7Málaga CF33138123639-347
8Athletic Club34138133438-447
9Celta de Vigo33119133938142
10RCD Espanyol33119133942-342
11Rayo Vallecano33132183861-2341
12Real Sociedad34913123744-740
13Getafe CF34106182852-2436
14Levante UD3498173260-2835
15Elche CF3397172757-3034
16Eibar3387182846-1831
17UD Almería3387182952-2331
18Deportivo La Coruña33611162952-2329
19Granada CF33413162161-4025
20Córdoba CF34311202153-3220

Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (lineups and statistics via WhoScored).