Levante vs Real Madrid: Pre-match news in brief - Bale, Rodrygo...
LaLiga leaders Real Madrid take on Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia on Saturday evening (21:00 CET), in week 25 of the 2019/20 season.
Bale, Jovic both miss Levante clash through illness
Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic are absent from the Real Madrid squad for Saturday night's Levante clash because they are have both been suffering from a stomach bug since Wednesday. Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has also left out Rodrygo Goes, Nacho Fernández, Brahim Díaz and injured pair Mariano Díaz and Marco Asensio.
Full story: Zinedine Zidane leaves Bale out of squad for Levante
Rodrygo set to play for Castilla
Rodrygo's omission from the LaLiga leaders' matchday squad means he has now been left out of Real Madrid's last four league games. The 18-year-old is expected to drop down to Los Merengues' 'B' team, Castilla, and play in Sunday's Segunda División B match against San Sebastián de los Reyes.
Full story: Rodrygo to drop down to Castilla
Real Madrid travel on morning of match
After flying to Valencia at 11:00 CET on Saturday morning, the squad will rest up ahead of the 21:00 kick-off at the Hotel Palau de la Mar.
See also: Levante vs Real Madrid - how and where to watch
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Hernández Hernández to take charge
Alejandro Hernández Hernández has been appointed as the referee for the LaLiga clash. The Canary Islander has overseen 14 Levante games (in which Los Granotas have picked up three wins, five draws and six defeats) and 21 involving Madrid (12 wins, three draws and six defeats). The video assistant will be Guillermo Cuadra Fernández.
Madrid youth product Mayoral could face parent club
Following Madrid's summer abolition of their policy of not allowing players loaned to other teams in Spain to appear against Los Blancos, Borja Mayoral will be able to face his parent club. Now in his second year on loan at Levante, Mayoral scored against Madrid in September, in the sides' first league meeting this season.