Real Madrid have only lost one home game all season, to Atletico Madrid, and defeat to Celta, unlikely as it may sound, would leave them eight points behind their city rivals, who won their game in Malaga Saturday.
The game will see Cristiano Ronaldo make his first appearance in the Santiago Bernabeu since November, after his thigh injury saw him miss a couple of matches and it is likely the Portuguese ace will be desperate to score at least one goal to be able to dedicate to the memory of his countryman, Eusebio, who passed away Sunday morning.
While Ronaldo is assured of a place in the Madrid starting line-up, there are still doubts over Gareth Bale, who has been struggling with a calf problem since mid-December. Bale took no part in Thursday's friendly match against Paris Saint Germain in Doha Thursday and Ancelotti looks unlikely to risk a player who has had more than his share of muscle problems in recent seasons.
An unfit Bale could open the door for Jese Rodriguez who scored the winning goal in midweek and whose late strike earned Madrid three vital points in Valencia in the last game before the short Christmas break.
The top scorer in the B-team last season has been knocking on the door of the first team all season and could take advantage of Angel di Maria's recent poor form amid rumors he could leave the club this January.
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