text: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is facing a midfield selection conundrum for Wednesday's La Liga match across town at Rayo Vallecano as the European champions look to keep up the pressure on leaders Barcelona. Second-placed Real, who hammered Granada 9-1 on Sunday with Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo netting his first five-goal haul, are four points behind Barca, who host Almeria earlier on Wednesday, with nine games left. Barring last-minute injuries, Ancelotti will have both Isco and James Rodriguez available for the first time in two months since James broke a bone in his foot and must decide which of the two playmakers joins Toni Kroos and Luka Modric across the centre. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a selection dilemma ahead of Wednesday's match with Rayo . Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals in Real Madrid's 9-1 rout of Granada on Sunday . Ronaldo's five-star performance is hailed in the Monday edition of the Spanish sports daily AS . 'The man in the bag' ran the headline on the front cover of Monday's edition of Marca . Real Madrid are four points behind Barcelona in the race for the La Liga title . Isco, a Spain international who was suspended for the Granada game, performed well first during Modric's lengthy injury lay-off and then during the absence of James and has become a huge favourite with the Real fans. Ancelotti, by contrast, has been whistled by some sections of the Bernabeu crowd as Real stumbled since the turn of the year and if he drops Isco and the team stutter again the Italian could be in for a torrid time. James returned to action against Granada and Ancelotti praised him after the game, suggesting he favours the Colombian, who joined from Monaco for a fee of £63m in the close season. James Rodriguez returned to the Real Madrid team during the match with Granada after two months out . Isco (left), seen here with Luka Modric in training last week, is also set to return to action soon . 'He played very well, it didn't look as though he hadn't played for two months,' Ancelotti said. 'He showed his quality, his intensity and his ability to keep possession. He is a very direct player and always shows great vision and awareness.' After edging Celta Vigo 1-0 on Sunday, Barca will be looking for a more convincing performance at home to struggling Almeria, who sacked coach Juan Ignacio Martinez after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat by Levante. Barca's Argentina forward Lionel Messi, in particular, will be keen to get back among the goals after failing to score in his last three outings in all competitions. Ronaldo leapfrogged Messi to the top of La Liga's scoring chart with Sunday's five and has 36, with Messi, who holds the record for a single season of 50, on 32. Lionel Messi will be hoping to return to scoring form when Barcelona play Almeria on Wednesday . Jeremy Mathieu (right) scored Barcelona's winner at Celta Vigo on Sunday night .
target: Real Madrid return to action at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night .
  They kept up the pressure on Barcelona with a 9-1 thrashing of Granada .
  Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals in the Bernabeu rout .
  Carlo Ancelotti now faces a selection poser ahead of Rayo visit .
  Isco and James Rodriguez are both fit and available again .
  Barcelona, four points clear, host Almeria on Wednesday night .