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#3 Everything to lose for Madrid
Right now, the Blancos are 11 points behind their eternal rivals. A loss would virtually—actually, realistically—kick them out of the contention of winning the league. Even though the Galacticos have a game in hand, going 11 points behind their rivals is something no club would like to have to go through.
As a result, Madrid will have to be at their best. Period. If they slip up, La Liga goes and so does the consistency that was sustained at the end of the last season.
And the onus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo to ensure that the Blancos outscore their rivals. As Karim Benzema is still on the free-fall and is seemingly never going to get out it, the responsibility to score falls on the broad and strong shoulders of the Portugal captain.
He might be showing signs of slowing down with age, but you can never really count out the 5 time Ballon d’Or winner to do something spectacular.
