Analysing Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid

Real Madrid's fans were feeling the love on Sunday night, as Los Blancos eased past Valencia with a 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Valentine's Day to leapfrog fierce rivals Barcelona into second place, having played one game more than their Catalonian counterparts.

An impressive finish from Karim Benzema was followed by a rare goal from Toni Kroos as Zinedine Zidane's side recorded their fourth league victory in five games, as they continued in their efforts to overthrow inner-city rivals Atletico from the top of the tree.

Next up for Spanish football's most successful club will be a trip to the northwestern region this weekend, for a league clash with relegation-threatened Real Valladolid, at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium.

Having failed so far in replicating their 13th placed finish that was achieved last season, 'Los Pucelanos' - a nickname directly derived from the city's historic Castilan heritage, translating to 'the maids' - are currently fighting for their safety in 18th position.

Managed by ex-Spain international Sergio, Valladolid find themselves in the danger zone by goal difference alone, after a disappointing winless run of six games in all competitions, and will be desperate for a pivotal win in their upcoming fixtures.

Having only narrowly edged past their opponents 1-0, in the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu, Los Blancos will be wary of their opponent's tendency to frustrate teams - whatever the outcome, the match-up makes for excellent viewing.

A fixture that is shrouded in history, the two first met in the 1948/49 season and have contested 96 more games since then, let's take a closer look at the statistics.

Los Blancos haven't lost to Valladolid in their last 12 games, winning 10 with the two sides drawing twice, their last defeat came in the 2008/09 season away from home - Valladolid clinched a closely-contested 1-0 victory at the Jose Zorrilla.

Of the 97 games contested between the two, Real have won 60 (61% win ratio) with Los Pucelanos edging the contest 16 times (16.4%) and 21 of the matches concluding in a draw.

Madrid have also edged previous fixtures in the goalscoring department, scoring 197 of the 300 recorded between the two, with Valladolid notching a respectable 103, with their win-loss ratio taken into account.

Real's biggest losing streak in all competitions against their opponents stands at three games, when they were beaten in three successive La Liga contests from 1952 to 1954.

Los Blancos have kept a clean sheet in four of their last seven games against Valladolid and will be hoping to strengthen this record at the weekend.

Despite this however, they have endured much less success in northwestern Spain than in the Spanish capital, with only a 41% win ratio and scoring 57% of the goals.

Can Valladolid secure three vital points in their bid for promotion by beating Zidane's side for the first time in 13 years?

Leaving the field with ten men following two bookings for Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid came from behind to defeat a struggling Valladolid side 4-1, to remain third in the league behind usual suspects, Atletico and Barcelona.

Having had a goal ruled out and missing a penalty through Ruben Alcaraz, Segio Gonzalez's side finally scored their long-awaited opening goal after half an hour, Anuar Tahumi fired home from close range to put the hosts in front.

After Raphael Varane equalised just five minutes later, Los Blancos scored a flurry of goals in the second half, to wrap up a convincing 4-1 win away from home.

French talisman Karim Benzema bagged a nine-minute brace in the second half - converting a penalty and heading home from a corner, before Croatian stalwart Luka Modric added the fourth.

The win was unable to disguise a host of on and off-field problems for Madrid however, as an early Champions League exit and lacklustre league performance continued to mount pressure on head coach Santiago Solari, who was sacked just two days later.

Inspired by a host of legendary players, Madrid edged a seven-goal thriller on home turf thanks to goals from magisterial midfielders Angel Di Maria and Kaka alongside a brace from all-time record scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The visitors took the lead within the first ten minutes, Valladolid's Oscar capitalised on a defensive mix-up from Madrid to put them in front, as Iker Casillas watched on helplessly from the bench.

Three more goals followed before the half-way mark as Madrid clawed two back through a deflected effort from Di Maria before their legendary Portuguese talisman headed home to put them in front.

A resolute Valladolid side found an equaliser just three minutes later to close out an action-packed first half.

It was Jose Mourinho's side who eventually prevailed in the second half however, an early goal from Kaka allowed them to regain the lead before Ronaldo leapt high to power home his second header of the night and decide the fixture.

Sastre's 87th minute wonder-volley was merely a consolation as the hosts wrapped up all three points.

A dazzling brace from Mesut Ozil twice rescued Madrid as they came from behind on two occasions to beat Los Pucelanos in emphatic fashion.

Manucho scored the game's opening goal in the sixth minute, beating Iker Casillas in the penalty area with a cool side-footed finish as Valladolid went a goal in front, much to the surprise of the home faithful.

As was expected, it didn't take long for the hosts to fire back, Karim Benzema rolled the ball into an empty net after a lethal team move carved Miroslav Dukic's side open.

Valladolid's Angolan forward - who has one recorded appearance for Manchester United in the 2008/09 season - headed home from an inviting corner, before German playmaker Ozil levelled the scores on the stroke of half time.

A sole goal separated the side's in the second half and thus decided the match, and it was a moment of brilliance that created it - striking an exquisite left-footed free-kick off the underside of the bar and in, Ozil outwitted a stranded Jaime in the Valladolid goal to win the game for Los Blancos.

Wonderous Welsh winger, Gareth Bale continued to prove his worth as the world's most expensive player, scoring a sensational hat-trick and providing an assist for Karim Benzema, in an immaculate individual performance in Spain's capital.

The brilliant Brit put Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead in the 33rd minute with a rebounded header from a Diego Marino save, before landing a pinpoint cross on Benzema's head for the second three minutes later.

Completing a perfect hat-trick to take home his first match ball in the all-white strip of Madrid, Bale grabbed the third with his weaker right foot - converting a Marcelo cross - before latching on to another pass from the Brazilian with his favoured left, to complete a tremendous trio.

Real Madrid to be ahead at half time and to be winners at full time, is 6/5 on Paddy Power.

(Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change).