Real Madrid will look to return to winning ways when they host Valencia after dropping points against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Defending champions Real Madrid are all set to face Valencia on Thursday in La Liga. The visitors are currently without a manager, and it will interesting to see how they fare against the Spanish champions.
Los Blancos have been unbeaten at home in the Spanish top flight, and they will be eager to keep this run intact. However, being unbeaten will not help their cause as they look to push for the La Liga title. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have to push for a win because dropping points will make their life a lot more difficult. They are already five points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid are heading into this fixture on the back of a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad. They were left frustrated on the night. Despite all their efforts, they could not get past the visitors’ defense and were forced to settle for a point.
The Karim Benzema-led side have not had the best of time in La Liga lately. They have dropped points in four of their last seven league games. So Real Madrid will be eager to bounce back and try to build a winning streak, as the games will come thick and fast in La Liga.
They started 2023 with a league defeat at the hands of Villarreal but managed to bounce back against Athletic Club. After settling for a goalless stalemate against Real Sociedad, they will hope to get back to winning ways.
As for the visitors, Valencia are concerned, they have been struggling in the ongoing season. They are currently 15th on the points table, with 20 points in 18 matches. Los Che are just one point clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand.
It has been a struggle for them throughout the season. They are currently manager-less as Gennaro Gattuso has left the club after being in charge for just seven months. The club and the manager have parted ways mutually after the Valencia boss suffered eight defeats in his 18 league matches.
The decision to let go of Gattuso came after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Valladolid. Valencia have been winless in their last four La Liga matches, having lost three of those. Their away record is not good either, and they have only won one of their eight away matches in the league.
However, Valencia will have to believe they can cause an upset when they travel to the Bernabeu on Thursday. It is going to be an interesting clash between two teams who are desperate to win for different reasons. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the teams could line up and what tactics they might use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
📋✅ Our squad for the match 🆚 @valenciacf_en! #RealMadridValencia pic.twitter.com/ELNoJgQAwu
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 1, 2023
Los Blancos have a few injury concerns ahead of their fixture against Valencia. Left-back Ferland Mendy sustained a hamstring injury in their Copa del Rey win over rivals Atletico Madrid last week. He is set to miss around two months of action. Lucas Vazquez has been sidelined with a sprained ankle. Meanwhile, David Alaba has not recovered yet and as a result, is not a part of the squad.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will have a boost as Ancelotti confirmed over the weekend that Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Carvajal have returned. They will be available for the fixture against Valencia.
Eduardo Camavinga, who played at left-back last time around, is likely to return to a holding role. Carvajal is likely to start at right-back. Meanwhile, Nacho might take over at left-back in the absence of Mendy.
Dani Ceballos and Tchouameni will fight it out for a place in the centre of the park. Star midfielder Luka Modric is set to return to the starting eleven after being on the bench in the last outing.
Carlo Ancelotti is likely to stick to his 4-3-3 formation, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and Nacho will make the back four. Toni Kroos, Camavinga, and Luka Modric are likely to be his midfield trio. Tchouameni should to make an appearance off the bench.
Karim Benzema will be the leader of the attack and is likely to be supported by Vinicius Jr. on the left flank. Finally, the versatile Federico Valverde will start on the right flank ahead of Rodrygo Goes.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Valencia
Jaume Domenech (knee) and Nico Gonzalez (foot) are two names on the injury list at Valencia. Thierry Correia and Justin Kluivert are also not available for the fixture against Real Madrid. Correia has not yet recovered from a muscle problem.
Valencia have confirmed that Voro González will be in charge until the end of the season. The interim manager is expected to make a few changes to the starting eleven. Mouctar Diakhaby, Hugo Guillamon, and Ilaix Moriba were all on the bench in their last outing. They are all pushing for a place in the first eleven. And a few of them are likely to start against Real Madrid.
Valencia’s top scorer Edinson Cavani has had a tough time in the past few fixtures. He has failed to score in his last three appearances. The Valencia fans will hope that he returns to the scoresheet on Thursday.
🗣️ Voro González: "We have time to improve and for the team to compete"#RealMadridValencia
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) February 1, 2023
It is unlikely that Voro will change the shape of the team. So Valencia are expected to line up in 4-3-3 formation against Real Madrid. Giorgi Mamardashvili will take charge in goal, and Dimitri Foulquier is likely to start at right-back ahead of Christhian Mosquera. Eray Comert, Diakhaby, and Jose Gaya will complete the defense.
Yunus Musah will retain his spot in the centre of the park, while Guillamon and Moriba will return to the XI. Cavani will lead the line, while Samu Castillejo and Samuel Lino will support him from the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Comert, Diakhaby, Gaya; Musah, Guillamon, Moriba; Castillejo, Cavani, Lino
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won 31 out of the last 55 matches against Valencia. Los Che have only managed to come out on top on 11 occasions.
- Valencia have lost their last three matches against Real Madrid in La Liga. Los Blancos have only enjoyed a longer winning streak once in the 21st century. They had won five La Liga games in a row between 2009 and 2011.
- Real Madrid have been unbeaten at home against Valencia. They have not lost in the last 14 La Liga games. They are on the verge of equaling a record if they avoid defeat.
- Los Blancos have not lost their last 15 La Liga matches played on a Thursday. They have won their last six such games.
- In the first 11 La Liga games, Real Madrid only dropped points once but recently they have dropped points in four of their last seven matches.
Player to Watch
Karim Benzema
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has an excellent track record against Valencia. He has scored in each of his last seven matches against the visitors, racking up nine goals. Benzema will be eager to return on the scoresheet.
The Real Madrid captain has nine goals so far this season and is four goals behind top scorer Robert Lewandowski. Benzema would love to move up in the top scorer’s list, and Carlo Ancelotti will love to see his ace striker return to business as usual.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia
Valencia are struggling to survive in La Liga, and they do not have a manager. It cannot get much worse than this for the visitors. And, now they are all set to square up against defending champions, who are eager to return to winning ways.
Real Madrid will go all out for a win, and the return of a few players will surely help them. Valencia will feel the full force of Carlo Ancelotti’s men and might not be able to handle it. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 2-0 win for the reigning La Liga champions.
