Barca goes 15 points clear in Laliga as Madrid host Valladolid on Sunday 

Barcelona scored four goals in a single game for the first time since October to go 15 points clear of Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander, courtesy of their 4-0 win over Elche on Saturday night.

With Real Madrid not in action until Sunday afternoon, Xavi's team took advantage with a goal-fest at the Estadio Martinez Valero.

Five games had passed for Robert Lewandowski since his last goal, against Manchester United in the Europa League at Old Trafford, but he was back on the scoresheet here.

His first came from a smart set piece routine, with Jordi Alba taking it from deep and Ronald Araujo knocking it down to the Polish striker to score.

Minutes before half time, he could have made it two with a headed chance which he sent over the bar from short range.

Another Barcelona forward who has had a rough time of late, given his father's controversial comments about his minutes, is Ansu Fati, and he joined Lewandowski in scoring.

Making his first start in almost a month, Ferran Torres fed him in and he raced through to add a pinpoint finish from the edge of the box and double Barcelona's lead in the 56th minute.

His strike partner Lewandowski added a third only 10 minutes later as Gavi won the ball in a dangerous position and set up Lewandowski for a clinical finish.

Four minutes later, Lewandowski floated the ball across the pitch to Ferran Torres, who cut in on his left and curled his shot beyond Edgar Badia.

The result means that Elche remain 13 points adrift at the bottom of the standings, while Barcelona make it five consecutive wins at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid return to the pitch after the international break and Real Valladolid .

It is a match in which Ancelotti’s main mission is to prevent his players from putting their minds on ‘Holy Wednesday’. Barça await them at Camp Nou and Madrid are 0-1 down from the first leg.

As such, it is understandable that when Carletto goes up against Pacheta’s team, he does so with a certain number of rotations, swapping out the casualties of Mendy and Mariano, as well as Nacho, who will serve a suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card this season against FC Barcelona.

Alaba’s return seems to be the main story of the defensive line.

His hamstring issue is history: the defender played 45 minutes with Austria which calmed the nerves of those in Madrid and showed everyone that he is ready for more.

His return to LaLiga will be against Valladolid, as he has the biggest chance of filling the gap at left-back.

Given the fact that Madrid are without Nacho, the centre of the defence pretty much writes itself: the Militao-Rüdiger pair has established itself as the new white wall.

There is also a chance of rotation on the right: Lucas Vázquez may start ahead of a Carvajal who didn’t have the most positive of times away with the National Team.

Another player who will have to grasp every opportunity is Tchouameni, who is losing ground on the in-form Camavinga, who performed brilliantly against Ireland with France.

Against Valladolid, Tchouameni is the favourite to act as the number ‘6′, with Camavinga taking the starting position, at least as things stand, in the cup match against Barça in midweek.

It is an ideal game, on paper, for Modric to take a break: he started both games for Croatia, which will allow Ceballos to play.

Kroos, for his part, comes back fully rested having retired from the Mannschaft, and will be on the left of the three.

The top end of the line-up will be made up of Benzema, Vinicius, and potentially Rodrygo. Valverde was the last to return from international duty with his national team, and may be rested.

The Uruguayan returned to training in Madrid on Thursday, immediately after having been key in Uruguay’s games against Japan (1-1) and South Korea (1-2).

As such, the player who has only missed one match due to rest in 2023, will give up his place for the Brazilian.