Big game for Madrid as Celta set to field subs

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will make his 500th appearance for the club when his side face a difficult trip to play Celta Vigo on Sunday night.

Madrid, who lead the Liga Santander by four points and with a game less played than their title rivals, know a win in Vigo will be a major boost to their title hopes given that the trip to Vigo is one of the more difficult away matches left this season.

The game is likely to be made more complicated by the extreme high wind and rain which has affected the northwest of Spain, but at the same time Celta's continued presence in the King's Cup knockout competition means it is easier than it could otherwise have been.

Celta knocked Madrid out of the Cup less than a fortnight ago and while Madrid have had all week to prepare for the game, Thursday saw Eduardo Berizzo's side play a tough 90 minutes at home to Alaves.

The 0-0 draw in that game means the place in the final will be decided next Wednesday and Berizzo is expected to make wholesale changes on Sunday with players such as Iago Aspas and Pablo Hernandez rested.

Celta rested key players and still won away to Leganes a week ago, but it is one thing to beat the struggling side from the south of Madrid and another to be able to defeat the league leaders with a side made up of fringe players.

Madrid boss Zidane recovers players after injury with Pepe and James Rodriguez both available again, although the game comes too soon for Marcelo and Luka Modric. With Tony Kroos suspended, James and Isco will fight it out for a place in the starting 11, while Zidane has to decide between Alvaro Morata or Karim Benzema in attack.

Morata staked his claim for a place in the starting 11 with a goal last weekend against Real Sociedad, while Benzema has looked sluggish and off the pace of late and could find himself watching the start of the game at least from the bench. Endit