Real Madrid head to Valencia's Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday looking to open a four-point gap at the top of La Liga.
Real have two games in hand over second-placed Barcelona and will be looking to continue the impressive form that has seen them victorious in five of their last six outings.
Valencia are battling away at the other end of the table but should go into the clash in good heart after a 2-0 victory at home to Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 19.
Preview
This encounter was originally scheduled for December 2016 but was rearranged due to Real's involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Zinedine Zidane's side have at times looked imperious in La Liga this season, and Valencia face an uphill struggle, despite a recent upturn in their league performances.
Real's confidence is likely to be boosted by the return to fitness of Wales attacker Gareth Bale, who made a triumphant goalscoring comeback after three months out with an ankle injury in the club's 2-0 win over Espanyol on Feb. 18.
Bale began that match on the bench, and such is the strength Zidane has available to him, he may well decide to do similar and use one of his star men as an impact substitute.
Valencia boss Salvador Gonzalez Marco will be buoyed by recent defensive displays, and four points taken from the last six has seen the club edge clearer of the relegation spots to sit 15th.
In an intriguing side note to the match, if Real can get on the scoresheet against Valencia, it would keep them on course to break a 63-year-old Barcelona record.
Indeed, should they score at the Mestalla and also in their subsequent match away tie Villareal, they would equal a run of scoring in 44 matches set by the Blaugrana between 1942 and 1944, per Matt Heath-Smith of The Sun.
For Valencia, the visit of title-chasing Real will represent a true test of their recent defensive improvements.
Head To Head
Both teams have scored and there have been over 2.5 goals in all of the last 6 meetings. Both teams have netted twice or more in 5 of those games and Real Madrid have only won 2 of them.
Valencia vs Real Madrid Stats
Valencia home games this term average a huge 3.6 goals per game. Real Madrid away games average 3.67. There have been at least 2 goals in every Real Madrid league game this season and every Valencia home game.
Valencia Team News
Jose Gaya should start having shaken off an injury. Simone Zaza is set to continue up front with Munir and Nani out wide. Martin Montoya should be preferred to Joao Cancelo on the right of the back four.
Real Madrid Team News
Keylor Navas will start in goal while Marcelo and Sergio Ramos should return in defence. James Rodriguez may start wide on the right with Gareth Bale unlikely to be rushed back from the off just yet. The Welshman is highly likely to feature in the 2nd Half though.
