Mind the Gap

Real Madrid has set itself the target of cutting Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga this weekend. 'Los Blancos' play a day earlier than their archrivals, against a Valladolid side currently languishing 17th in the league, whilst Barça travels to one of the toughest away stadiums in Spain - Athletic Bilbao’s new San Mamés.
Barça’s lead still demands that Real win every game it plays, because one more defeat would extend the Catalans’ lead to 9 points.
Real took full advantage of Barcelona’s only setback this season, in Pamplona, to move to within three points after their win over Malaga. That distance was five points after the draw against Villarreal and defeat to Atlético. It stretched to six after Barça took all three points in 'el Clasico'.
However, since then, Real has played its best football of the season so far. Apart from a draw in Turin, Ancelotti’s men have won every game and scored a hatful of goals along the way. 26 in six matches, more than four per game. Real is on the up, despite losing Khedira, Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo to injury.
Conversely, things at Barcelona are not the best following its defeat in Amsterdam, on top of which it has now lost Messi through injury. Barça will be without the Argentine for its game at San Mamés, where Athletic Bilbao remains undefeated this season, having notched up five wins and two draws.