Valencia and Real Madrid share a competitive rivalry in La Liga, but facing Real Madrid at this time might not be ideal for Valencia, especially with their current struggles.
Last year, Valencia held Real Madrid to a controversial draw, with a goal from Bellingham being disallowed at the final whistle, ending the match at 2-2.
However, this season, Valencia is in a dire position, sitting at the bottom of the league with just 7 points from 11 games. They even lost to Las Palmas, who had not won in the league since February, with a 2-3 defeat at Mestalla. Last weekend, Valencia managed a draw against Getafe, which gives them a glimmer of hope for a late-season revival.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, after a significant 5-2 victory against Dortmund in the Champions League, suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat to FC Barcelona at home. This loss means they are now six points behind Barcelona, who have only had one slip-up so far.
Real Madrid’s defense has been shaky, and their attack hasn’t been as effective despite having three of the top six players in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hoping for a strong response from his team in their match against Valencia, reminding everyone that the last time they lost to Barça, they went on to win both La Liga and the Champions League in the same year.
Valencia faces more bad news with several key players out: midfielder Pepelu is suspended, defenders Diakhaby and Correia have ruptured cruciate ligaments, forwards Rafa Mir and Hugo Duro are injured, along with new signing Luis Rioja and the important Jesus Vazquez. The only positive is the return of captain and left-back José Gaya, who has been back for two matches.
For Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal is out for the rest of the season with a ruptured cruciate ligament, and young central defender Joan Martinez is also sidelined. David Alaba is still recovering and won’t be available, while Rodrygo and Courtois remain injured from the Dortmund match. Additionally, Rüdiger’s participation is uncertain as he missed the early-season training sessions.
Prediction
Valencia ended their previous top-flight campaign poorly, losing eight of their last 12 matches, so facing Real Madrid represents a significant challenge. Real Madrid, with their recent form, seem likely to secure a win, but it could be a competitive match.
Prediction: Valencia 1 : 2 Real Madrid
