Real Madrid: 3 predictions for Matchday 16 at Elche

When Spanish football returns next week, Real Madrid will face Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

Coming out of Christmas, Real Madrid are riding a wave of momentum. They are winners of six straight matches in La Liga and the Champions League, and there is no doubt that they are back at their best. Los Blancos can still compete in all competitions this season, though it did look at one point like their Champions League hopes were minimal.

On Wednesday night, Los Blancos will face Elche on the road in La Liga, looking to get all three points as they keep up with Atletico Madrid in the title race Both Atleti and Real are even on points, but Atelti have two games in hand.

Here are three predictions for Real Madrid at Elche.

Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior will start

Vinicius Junior started in the first four consecutive wins after the loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, and he repaid Zinedine Zidane’s faith by playing his best in the last of those four wins against Athletic Club. Unfortunately, Vini missed the match at Eibar due to an illness, and then Zidane went with Rodrygo Goes vs. Granada after the latter’s great game against Eibar.

Rodrygo is out for about three months now, so Vinicius can be one of the players to step up. Eden Hazard should get minutes off the bench at Elche, but the road is clear for Vinicius to start.

Marco Asensio is an even more interesting case. Lucas Vazquez deserves to be the starter over Asensio, because he has consistently played well, raising his game at right back and right winger when the team needed him the most.

That said, Asensio played well against Granada, recording his first goal contribution of the season with his assist for Casemiro. Asensio should get a chance to impress against Elche.