Real Madrid started the La Liga season with a frustratingly impotent goalless draw away at Sporting Gijón, but Rafael Benítez certainly weren't missing their scoring boots for long. They've since scored 15 goals in three matches, smashing Real Betis, Espanyol and Shakhtar Donetsk without conceding a single goal. The next team expected to be on the end of a thrashing are last season's relegation strugglers Granada, who return to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday.
Real Madrid vs. Granada 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch La Liga online
Granada will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the massive defeat they suffered in their last match against Real Madrid when they head to the Bernabéu on Saturday.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Granada's start to the season has been mixed, with defeats to Eibar and Villarreal coming either side of a narrow win over Getafe. Their relatively difficult opening run of fixtures makes it difficult to judge whether they've made any improvements over the summer, though José Ramón Sandoval will be hoping their numerous new signings will be sufficient to allow his side to avoid being sucked into a relegation scrap once again.
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo is now on the wrong side of 30, but is showing no signs of slowing down. The Portuguese international has scored eight goals in his last couple of games, and needs to score only twice more to match Raúl at the top of Real Madrid's all time top scorers list. Averaging more than a goal per game, it looks almost certainly like Ronaldo is going to break the record in less than half the game time. Indeed, he could well score his 322nd an 323rd goals in this match.
When they last met: Real Madrid 9-1 Granada, 5 April 2015
Ronald will have no problem beating the record if Granada play anything like they did on their last visit to the Bernabéu in April. On that occasion they were smashed by an embarrassing 9-1 scoreline, with Ronaldo helping himself to five goals. Karim Benzema chipped in with a brace, while Gareth Bale also got on the scoresheet. The eighth goal of the nine was an own goal by center back Diego Mainz. It left Granada teetering on the brink of relegation, which they eventually avoided by mere tiebreakers.
Real Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: Sergio Ramos (dislocated shoulder), James Rodríguez (thigh), Danilo (foot), Gareth Bale (calf). In doubt: None.
Granada injuries and suspensions
Out: Rubén Pérez (knee). In doubt: Piti (foot), Jean-Sylvain Babin (knee).
Real Madrid will still be without James Rodríguez and Danilo, while Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale are new additions to their injury list: the former suffered a dislocated shoulder in their win over Shakhtar in midweek, while Gareth Bale could face longer on the sidelines with a calf injury.
Granada will certainly be without former Atlético Madrid man Rubén Pérez, and are waiting on the fitness of Piti and Jean-Sylvain Babin.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
TV: beIN Sports (U.S. and Canada - English), beIN Sports en Español (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 3/HD (U.K.)
Online: beIN Sports Connect (U.S. and Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
See More:
