Real Madrid stumbled to a 1-1 La Liga draw at Leganes on Monday, the latest disappointing result in a nightmare season for the European champions.

Zinedine Zidane's side, who are third in the table and 13 points behind leaders Barcelona, were uninspired against local rivals Leganes.

Madrid put in the kind of lethargic performance which has plagued their season, with Marco Asensio and Raphael Varane missing good first-half chances.

"For me as coach, and them as players, we must keep trying to play better," Zidane said. "We can play better, and we must play better. The first half was not so good, the second half a bit better. Even if this might have been a bad season, we must all give a bit more."

Jonathan Silva fired Leganes ahead in the 45th minute with their first chance of the game, driving home from the edge of the box.

Karim Benzema equalised at the start of the second half and Marcelo saw a shot tipped away as Madrid enjoyed a short period in ascendancy.

Leganes, 11th in the table, went close to winning the game but Youssef En-Nesyri had a goal correctly disallowed for offside.

Asked if Benzema annoyed by persistent talk that the Bernabeu hierarchy would sign a new striker this summer, Zidane said: "I don't know -- you'd have to ask him about that."

"[Benzema] is used to that, new players coming," Zidane said. "But he has shown his personality and that's it. He is a fantastic player and this year what has changed is that he has scored many more goals, so I am happy for him."

A Madrid player whose future remains uncertain is Welsh galactico Gareth Bale, who made little impression during a late run as a substitute.

"[Bale] is an important player of the squad," Zidane said. "He has played three of the last four games, I think. Today I wanted to make a change, that's all. Playing 10 or 15 minutes is difficult for those who come into the game, it was the same with Lucas [Vazquez]. We make the changes to win the game, and we did not do that today."

Information from Reuters and ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan was used in this report.

Arsenal boosted their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League after a bizarre 10th-minute goal by striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave them a 1-0 win at 10-man Watford on Monday.

The result lifted the Gunners two places up to fourth on 66 points from 33 games, one behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal are ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea, who have played a game more, on goal difference. Watford stayed 10th with 46 points.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery was pleased with his team's first away clean sheet of the season.

"A clean sheet is very important," he told the BBC. "It is going to give us a lot of information, this match."

The fast-paced clash took a decisive turn in a frantic one-minute spell early on, as Aubameyang found the back of the net in unlikely fashion before Watford striker Troy Deeney was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lucas Torreira.

The home side's goalkeeper Ben Foster dwelled on Daryl Janmaat's back pass for too long, allowing Aubameyang to close him down and block his attempted goalmouth clearance as the ball ricocheted into the back of the net.

Foster made no excuses for his howler.

"I've said sorry to the lads," he said. "I tried to drag it on to my left and pass it out but before I knew it Aubameyang was bloody on me. He is too quick. In hindsight you have to get rid [of the ball] as quick as you can, even if it goes into row Z."

Torreira was taken off at half-time with a "small injury," said Emery, who also cited the atmosphere surrounding the Uruguay international after the Deeney incident.

"First I decided to do the change of Lucas Torreira because, after the red card, the atmosphere is against him," he said.

"Also, the doctor said to me in the first half that he has a little pain from Thursday's game against Napoli and I decided 'okay, it's the moment [to take him off]'."

Asked what he thought of Deeney's red card, the former Sevilla and PSG boss said he never saw the clash.

"I didn't see the red card. I leave the decision for the referee," he said. "It's clear it helped us, with the decisions, because we played with one more player from then on. It's more difficult for them. But our goal gave us the advantage in the first half and after the red card also."

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Watford kept pressing and missed a string of chances to draw level, having twice been denied by the woodwork as well as by some good saves from Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.

The home side missed their best opportunity in the 80th minute when Arsenal substitute Ainsley Maitland-Niles slid in to block Andre Gray's goal-bound effort after the Watford forward rounded Leno.

Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also came close at the other end but Arsenal were forced to hang on in the closing stages with Watford throwing men forward.

The home team's manager Marco Silva praised his team for their fighting spirit in the face of adversity.

"We did a lot of things to try to win, a big effort," he said. "We didn't get any points but we played well. It was a difficult game with 10 men."

Major League Soccer doesn't really do undefeated teams, at least not for long. There are too many ways to trip in a league where even the worst clubs can sometimes sneak a win through poor opponent finishing and/or a bit of luck.

This year, three teams have made it to mid-April without a blemish following Toronto's loss in Seattle this weekend. All three -- LAFC, Seattle and Houston -- play on the road between now and the end of Week 8. No team made it to May without a loss in 2018, and the two that did proved to be paper tigers by the time the playoffs rolled around.

Making it to May might not indicate anything about how a team's season will end up, but it will convey at least one honor: a top spot in the prestigious ESPN MLS Power Rankings.

What could be better than that?

Previous rankings: Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

1. LAFC (6 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses)

Previous ranking: 1

Next MLS match: Wednesday, April 17, at Vancouver (10 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Herculez Gomez says Carlos Vela isn't even playing the best he can and now he's scoring with his right foot. If the rest of the league wasn't already very, very afraid, now is probably a good time to feel fear of Bob Bradley's black and gold machine as well as what Vela can do if he stays healthy for the balance of the season.

2. Seattle Sounders (5-1-0)

Previous ranking: 2

Next MLS match: Sunday, April 21, at LAFC (7 p.m. ET)

It feels like Sounders vs. Toronto FC should be a rivalry game simply because of their competing in MLS Cup finals against each other in 2016 and 2017. Saturday's match had that vibe, with a tight and tense hour-plus giving way to a wild finish. Give the Sounders credit: They executed a comeback and used everything they had to hold on for a win.

3. LA Galaxy (5-0-1)

Previous ranking: 3

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, vs. Houston (11 p.m. ET)

Four straight wins, two straight clean sheets for the Galaxy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's health might be the biggest factor in just how successful this season turns out for LA, but there's reason to be positive about the defensive direction of the team. Next week should see the Galaxy debut of Giancarlo Gonzalez, a further boost for a back line that's needed it for some time.

4. Houston Dynamo (4-1-0)

Previous ranking: 6

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, at LA Galaxy (11 p.m. ET)

The best team no one is talking about (or going out to see, for that matter) is the Houston Dynamo. Wilmer Cabrera's club is unbeaten this season and extended its winning streak to four with a victory over San Jose. If the Dynamo can weather the metaphorical storms of the season like they did the literal one on Saturday, watch out.

5. D.C. United (4-2-1)

Previous ranking: 5

Next MLS match: Sunday, April 21, vs. New York City FC (4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes)

Luciano Acosta's first goal since the season opener against Atlanta (a figurative lifetime ago) helped United overcome an early deficit against the Rapids and bounce back from Tuesday's disappointing draw with Montreal. Keep an eye on Chris Durkin; following reports that United turned down a loan opportunity, there's new pressure to play him.

6. Columbus Crew (4-1-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. Portland (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The lack of a finishing touch and a simple mistake at the back were enough to undo the Crew in Montreal. It's the danger of the possession-heavy approach Columbus takes, particularly against a defend-and-counter team like the Impact. No reason to panic for the Crew, though: They were the better team on the day in Quebec.

7. Sporting Kansas City (2-3-1)

Previous ranking: 7

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at San Jose (10 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

While other teenagers are getting the bigger spotlight, Gianluca Busio is quietly becoming a crucial part of Sporting's season. The 16-year-old scored the equalizer on Sunday against the Red Bulls and perhaps more impressive, he didn't bother celebrating with more than a first pump: Busio wanted to get back and find the late winner.

8. FC Dallas (4-1-2)

Previous ranking: 10

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at Atlanta (4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes)

Atlanta's first win of the year might look like it comes at a bad time for FC Dallas, the next team to face the defending champs, but Atlanta's better form will make a win for the Texans more impressive if they can pull it off. Paxton Pomykal and FCD's kids will get a chance to show what they can do on the big national stage.

9. Toronto FC (3-1-1)

Previous ranking: 8

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, vs. Minnesota (8 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The Reds took their best swing at the Sounders and came up short. On the plus side, "Pozuelo to Altidore" looks to be a phrase TFC broadcasters will be saying a lot this season. Jozy Altidore already has five goals through four appearances after totaling just seven goals in all of 2018.

10. Philadelphia Union (3-1-3)

Previous ranking: 9

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. Montreal (1 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The trip out west ended the Union's unbeaten run and winning streak at four and three, respectively. A tough penalty call in the first half put Philadelphia in a hole it couldn't climb out of. Whatever the debate on the call, the Union's lack of firepower doomed them in a game that was likely to demand goals.

11. Minnesota United (3-1-2)

Previous ranking: 11

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, at Toronto (8 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The Loons home debut at Allianz Field didn't exactly go to plan (much like the debut Allianz Field tifo), but a draw and three goals is hardly a bad showing. The building glittered and Ozzie Alonso's booming volley was a fitting first goal for the new venue. Now to the business of making it a fortress on the northern plain.

12. Montreal Impact (3-1-2)

Previous ranking: 13

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at Philadelphia (1 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. That piece of wisdom appears to apply to Remi Garde's Impact, who secured three points in the first home game of the season on Saturday. Things are weird enough in the East that the win launched Montreal up the table and into third place.

13. New York Red Bulls (1-2-3)

Previous ranking: 12

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at New England (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

What a "woulda coulda" game for the Red Bulls in Kansas City. How big would a win at Sporting have been for a team struggling in the early going? How could a team as good as the Red Bulls were last year at protecting leads let two points slip by conceding a late goal?

14. FC Cincinnati (2-2-3)

Previous ranking: 14

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, vs. Real Salt Lake (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Cincy walked into the lion's den -- or the falcon's aerie -- and fell to the best team in the league. There's no shame in that, especially considering that Alan Koch's team kept it competitive and nearly managed to steal a point. FCC is still in the "no judgment" zone as an expansion side, so let's call that one a "positive loss."

15. Orlando City (2-2-3)

Previous ranking: 15

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. Vancouver (3 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Lions boss James O'Connor rolled out a lineup on the road in Salt Lake City that didn't feature Dom Dwyer and Nani, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. It's probably not right to say Orlando lost just because those two didn't start, but it's probably wrong to say things wouldn't have been any different with the pair in the lineup from the opening whistle.

16. Atlanta United (1-2-2)

Previous ranking: 17

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. FC Dallas (4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes)

The champs won a game! Frank de Boer's team put more balls into New England's net (2) than New England did into Atlanta United's net (0)! Ezequiel Barco's coming-out party was a major part of the win and will have the Five Stripes faithful dreaming the $15 million man can lead the team in the quest for another title.

17. Real Salt Lake (2-1-4)

Previous ranking: 18

Next MLS match: Friday, April 19, at Cincinnati (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Sam Johnson's name might not stand out, but the Liberian striker is a DP and does need to score goals for RSL to make noise in the West this season. Johnson's first MLS tally finally happened on Saturday against Orlando after weeks of slowly building into the lineup. Will it jump-start RSL's season nearly two months in?

18. New York City FC (0-5-1)

Previous ranking: 16

Next MLS match: Sunday, April 21, at D.C. United (4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes)

NYCFC's fifth point of the year probably should have been three. There might not be a worse goalkeeping moment in MLS this year than Sean Johnson's gaffe, and the last thing Dome Torrent needs as he tries to right the Yankee Stadium clipper is a keeper going through a crisis of confidence.

19. Chicago Fire (1-3-2)

Previous ranking: 19

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. Colorado (1 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

"Fair" is a word we use a lot in soccer, sometimes to the point of forcing the narrative on games that end up in draws. That said, it seems mostly fair that Chicago earned a home point from a questionable penalty after gifting the Whitecaps a goal when David Ousted mishandled the ball on the edge of his box. "Fair."

20. Vancouver Whitecaps (0-2-4)

Previous ranking: 21

Next MLS match: Wednesday, April 17, vs. LAFC (10 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The Whitecaps blew into Chicago without a win on the season. They didn't blow out any better. The chance at three points was there momentarily, but Vancouver can't have too many complaints about getting a single point out of game in which it had just two shots on target.

21. New England Revolution (1-1-5)

Previous ranking: 20

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. NYRB (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

For a team called the Revolution, New England is doing a lot of standing in place. A second straight goalless performance doomed the Revs to a loss on Saturday, but more troubling, the club is dropping games at home in a league where doing so is the surest sign of a season on its way to being lost.

22. San Jose Earthquakes (1-0-5)

Previous ranking: 22

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, vs. Sporting Kansas City (10 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

The Quakes didn't just suddenly become good with last week's win over the smoking wreckage of the Timbers, so Saturday's loss is not a shock. San Jose does look more competitive by the week, however, so maybe there's reason to hope for soccer fans in Northern California. Small victories.

23. Colorado Rapids (0-2-5)

Previous ranking: 23

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at Chicago (1 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Still no wins for Anthony Hudson and the Rapids in 2019. The new approach -- leaning on MLS vets to make the playoffs -- isn't working. The problems at the back are so bad that Hudson effectively called out every defender in his postgame comments by saying no one in the team has staked a claim to a starting spot.

24. Portland Timbers (0-1-5)

Previous ranking: 24

Next MLS match: Saturday, April 20, at Columbus (7.30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+)

Despite what you might hear from certain figures high up in the administration, it's not the referees who are holding back the defending Western Conference champions. The Timbers are just bad, though when things are going so poorly, the big decisions that go against you can feel like total miscarriages of justice. We get it.

Arsenal clung on to a 1-0 win against 10-man Watford to climb back into the Champions League places.

Watford were the architects of their own downfall after a huge Ben Foster error to gift Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the game's only goal was swiftly followed by a Troy Deeney red card.

Positives

It will be a huge relief for Arsenal to have finally recorded their first clean sheet on their travels this season. They owe plenty to Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who came off the bench to produce a brilliant late block to deny Watford an equaliser.

The clean sheet could provide the defence with a confidence boost ahead of their crucial trip to Naples in the Europa League later this week.

Negatives

This ought to have been far more comfortable than it was. Arsenal never really made their man advantage tell, and when they did create chances their finishing was wayward.

The Gunners will need to be better than this if they're to prevail in their three remaining away league games this season.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Unai Emery will be pleased that he managed some rotation and still came away with the three points. Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil shared the game, while Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette spent the entire game on the bench. However, he will be disappointed his team did not win this game more comfortably.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bernd Leno, 7 -- Despite Arsenal having a man advantage from relatively early in the game, Leno was still called upon to make some decent saves. In the first half alone, he reacted well to keep out efforts from Craig Cathcart and Etienne Capoue.

DF Shkodran Mustafi, 6 -- Deployed as right-back, Mustafi was essentially asked to keep it simple. Unusually for him, he managed it.

DF Laurent Koscielny, 7 -- In a week where Arsenal play three times, Koscielny's stamina will be tested. However, Emery knows they simply cannot afford to be without him at the moment.

DF Konstantinos Mavropanos, 5 -- With Sokratis Papastathopoulos suspended, Emery elected to throw in the younger of their Greek defenders. Arsenal fans have built up Mavropanos in his absence, but this outing showed he is still raw with much to learn.

DF Nacho Monreal, 7 -- Starting in his favoured position as a full-back, Monreal put in a committed display. He was probably somewhat relieved not to be up against the pace of injured countryman Gerard Deulofeu.

MF Granit Xhaka, 5 -- On his return from injury, the Swiss international looked somewhat rusty. He will need to be far better in Naples on Thursday night.

MF Lucas Torreira, 6 -- It was the Uruguayan who has caught by Deeney's elbow, and consequently became a target of boos from the Watford fans. Perhaps Emery felt that was playing on his mind, and that might have contributed to the decision to withdraw him at half-time.

There was no place for Rishabh Pant or Ambati Rayudu in India's 15-man World Cup squad, but KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar and Ravindra Jadeja got the selectors' nod.

The meeting to pick the team took place in Mumbai on Monday and was attended by India captain Virat Kohli and the five-man selection panel led by MSK Prasad.

The squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vice capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami.

Who will be the No. 4?

For the past few months, both Kohli and Prasad had stressed that the World Cup squad was virtually "sorted" barring one spot: The No. 4 spot in the batting order. India have tried as many as 11 batsmen in that position since the 2017 Champions Trophy held in England.

Kohli wants a No. 4 batsman with both the skill and temperament to inject momentum into the innings, especially if India are setting a target. Ambati Rayudu, Pant, Vijay and Karthik emerged as the main contenders for the spot and the selectors have now shortlisted Vijay, Karthik, Kedar Jadhav and if need be Rahul to perform that important role.

"Under pressure, we have seen Dinesh Karthik finishing matches. That scored for him" MSK PRASAD

"After that Champions Trophy [in 2017] we have tried quite a few middle-order batsmen, which also includes Dinesh Karthik; we also tried Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey. We did give a few more chances to Rayudu, but what Vijay Shankar offers is three dimensions. Apart from his batting, he can bowl; if the conditions are suitable, overcast, which we might encounter in England, he might bowl a bit and he's a fantastic fielder. That's the thing that went in favour of Vijay Shankar.

"We are looking at him at No. 4 to begin with. With Dinesh Karthik in and also Kedar Jadhav in, we have plenty of options at that No. 4 right now."

India's vice-captain Rohit Sharma had also put forward MS Dhoni name at No. 4, although he said that was a "personal" choice. Prasad said that they had looked at all options in the meeting and the unanimous decision was to stick with Shankar at No. 4, at least at the start of the World Cup.

"It (Dhoni at No. 4) was discussed," Prasad said. "But I don't think that was the point. The point discussed is that Vijay Shankar will bat at No. 4 and so can Kedar Jadhav and we also have a role for KL [Rahul] somewhere." Prasad clarified that Rahul would be the third opener and will only be brought into the middle order if all other options failed.

Karthik v Pant

Why Karthik and not Pant was a question directed at Prasad more than once at the media briefing. And Prasad explained that though Pant was "almost there", the selectors had more faith in Karthik handling the pressure of "crunch" matches.

"It's definitely a case where we have debated at length and all of us in unison felt that either Rishabh Pant or DK [Karthik] will only come into the playing XI if Mahi [Dhoni] is injured. If it is a crucial match, like a quarter-final or a semi-final or like an important game, wicketkeeping also matters. So that's the only reason that we went ahead with Dinesh Karthik. Otherwise Rishabh Pant was almost there."

However, the biggest factor that worked against Pant was his struggle in finishing games for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019; something that had also happened in final ODI against Australia in March, when he walked in to bat early with India chasing 273 early, but fell for a run-a-ball 16.

"That is exactly what we have discussed," Prasad said. "Under pressure, we have seen Dinesh Karthik finishing matches. That's one reason that scored for him."

Despite his promise as a hard-hitting batsman, Pant's wicketkeeping has not convinced everybody - including Prasad. "You can say that, you can say that, but the situation that was discussed among the selection committee is one of them will play in the XI provided MS [Dhoni] is injured. So under such situations, in crunch matches, who is the best guy who can handle the pressure? That is the reason that we went in favour of Dinesh Karthik. Otherwise Pant is full of talent. We have a lot of time for him. It is just unfortunate that he has missed out."

Three spinners against fourth specialist fast bowler

The defending champions Australia announced their World Cup squad on the same day as India and they picked as many as five fast bowlers. India though have settled for only three - Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

It appears that the fourth seamer's spot has gone to Jadeja, who has been included in case the wristspinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal suffer drops in form, which can happen in a tournament like the World Cup where each team plays nine games during the league phase alone.

"In the last one-and-a-half years, these two wristspinners who have won us games," Prasad said. "But there might be a situation where you might require an additional allrounder in the playing XI, which Jadeja brings in. In the second part of the tournament, where the wickets may be a bit more dry, that is where we felt Jadeja will come in handy. That's the reason why he's been picked."

Also, the selectors believe that with four allrounders in the squad - including Hardik Pandya and Vijay, who bowl seam up - India can often field an XI with as many as seven strong bowling options. Also, a BCCI press release said four additional quicks - Navdeep Saini, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar - will be traveling to the UK "to assist the Indian team in their World Cup preparation" and they could well be on standby in case of any problems to the three frontline quicks.

Big picture

Before IPL 2019, not many would have pointed at the return fixture between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals being the match they most looked forward to watching. In the post-mankad world though, this is going to be a game where non-strikers will be watched as closely as batsmen and bowlers. Under particular scrutiny will be the two protagonists of the drama that kicked off these two teams' IPL 2019 - R Ashwin and Jos Buttler. Will the Kings XI captain feel any additional pressure, knowing that there might be an extra edge to this contest? Will Buttler come out more determined to cart the bowlers everywhere because of what he has since said he perceives as a wrong decision?

Amid that subplot and drama, the bigger picture remains the race for qualification. Despite a stirring win against Mumbai Indians away in their last match, Royals' chances look a bit dim, with just two wins from seven games. They've been on the wrong end of four close results, and while different aspects of their execution went awry at various points, the common thread was their tendency to concede the big moments to the opposition. Their bowling has been led by Jofra Archer and Shreyas Gopal, but the support cast has regularly let them down, which is another area they need to work on.

Kings XI have had an up-and-down campaign so far, not stringing together enough wins to be truly dominant, but never letting too many losses pile up to lose spirit either. Ashwin has proved himself an astute captain and reliable bowler. His team though, has been a bit of a slightly off-kilter machine that is getting the job done. You know that if all the wheels align, it would go forward more easily. Lots of their wins have been scrappy affairs, and perhaps one truly dominant performance will mark a turnaround for a smoother ride ahead.

In the news

• Hardus Viljoen was unwell for Kings XI's last game, and thus missed out. That opened up a spot for Andrew Tye, but the Australia seamer conceded 40 runs in four overs without taking a wicket, so if Viljoen is fit, he could slot back in for Tye.

• Ben Stokes missed Royals' last match due to injury and they brought in Liam Livingstone. He, however, bowled only one over that went for 13 and batted at No.6, making 1 off 2 balls. If Stokes hasn't recovered, Royals could throw Ashton Turner into the mix. But, his right shoulder problem could restrict his throwing and bowling.

Previous meeting

It was both sides' opening game this season, and it's one no one is going to forget. When Ashwin ran Buttler out at the non-striker's end, it immediately became the story of the match. Steven Smith was making his return to the IPL, but he walked in when Buttler was out, and went almost unnoticed. Royals were cruising in their chase till then, but that mankad dismissal set off a chain reaction that resulted in a collapse, and a loss. Royals fumed, Ashwin stated plainly that he had acted perfectly within the law. Round 2 should be spicy.

Likely XIs

Kings XI Punjab: 1 KL Rahul, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Sarfaraz Khan, 5 Mandeep Singh, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Hardus Viljoen, 9 R Ashwin (capt), 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 M Ashwin

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson (wk), 4 Steven Smith, 5 Rahul Tripathi, 6 Ashton Turner, 7 Shreyas Gopal, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 K Gowtham, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Dhawal Kulkarni

Strategy punt

• Kings XI have a stark difference in run-rates when the middle overs are broken up into 7-12 and 13-18. They score slower in the second block, which is against the norm. A combination of factors contributes to this: their strong opening partnership and being conservative against spin the chief factors. With the openers often staying together till past 10 overs, their dismissals trigger a slowdown which is more pronounced against spin. To combat this, they could use someone like Nicholas Pooran as a floater, given the license to go out and hit the spinners off their lengths.

• Jos Buttler is pretty handy against all types of bowling on most days, but in IPL 2019 so far, he has been more circumspect against spinners. His strike-rate against spin is 124.7, compared to 173 against pace. He has also reversed the route he had gone down last year: this season he starts slower and picks up pace in the middle overs. His initial caution and comparative struggles against spin might tempt Ashwin to include Mujeeb Ur Rahman and use him up front.

Stats that matter

• Shreyas Gopal has the second-best average and strike-rate in wins since IPL 2018. He averages 13.6 and has a strike-rate of 13.3.

• KL Rahul needs six runs to make 1,000 for Kings XI. He has batted in only 22 innings so far, and if he gets there against Royals, he'll be the joint second-fastest to get 1,000 runs for one franchise. The quickest is Shaun Marsh. He scored 1,000 runs in 21 innings, also for Kings XI.

• Historically, both teams have been pretty evenly matched. They've won three games each in their six meetings at Mohali. Overall in the IPL, Kings XI have won eight and Royals have won ten in their 18 matches.