Real Madrid seeks new record run as La Liga resumes

the European champion looks to equal Barcelona’s Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten when Granada visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Real's 3-0 victory over Sevilla in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie endorsed Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane’s brave decision to leave Ronaldo out as he capped a dream debut year in charge at the Bernabeu with three trophies and just two defeats in 54 games.

Real Madrid will welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo for his first appearance of 2017 as the European champion looks to equal Barcelona’s Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten when Granada visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Ronaldo was rested as Real showed no signs of rust after a 17-day break since winning the Club World Cup to sweep aside Sevilla 3-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on Wednesday.

The victory endorsed Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane’s brave decision to leave Ronaldo out as he capped a dream debut year in charge at the Bernabeu with three trophies and just two defeats in 54 games.

“I won’t rest Ronaldo. He will play on Saturday and he will play many games, there is no need to worry,” said Zidane.

However, the enigmatic Frenchman has succeeded where former Real coaches have failed in ensuring Ronaldo accepts missing certain games throughout the season to get to the business end of the campaign 100 per cent fit.

Watch : >Villarreal's Barcelona struggles

“There are some players that make the difference like Cristiano because he is a different player, but we will need everyone to win what we want,” added Zidane.

With potentially another 20 games to come in the next 10 weeks, Zidane is likely to take the opportunity to rotate his squad once more against a Granada side that has won just once in 16 La Liga games this season.

Gareth Bale, Mateo Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez and Pepe remain sidelined by injury, whilst captain Sergio Ramos is suspended. However, Isco and Karim Benzema look set to return after being left on the bench against Sevilla.

Will Barca bounce back?

Another Real win would stretch its lead at the top over Barcelona to six points ahead of the Spanish champion’s far trickier trip to Villarreal on Sunday.

In contrast to Madrid, Barca started 2017 with a 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their last 16 Cup tie, despite the host being reduced to nine men in the second-half.

An immediate return to form is needed from Luis Enrique’s men, but they won’t have it easy against a Villarreal side that has lost just once at home all season.

The result at El Madrigal will not just have a big bearing on the title race, but also on the fight for the top four with Sevilla in third and Atletico Madrid in sixth only separated by four points