Football
3 Jan 2025
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Valencia vs Real Madrid: Preview, Predictions, and Lineups

On Friday evening, Valencia will host Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium in La Liga, marking the return of Los Blancos to domestic action after the winter break. With the Spanish football calendar now back in full swing, this matchup promises to be crucial for both teams, albeit for very different reasons. For Real Madrid, a win could see them leapfrog their local rivals Atlético Madrid into first place, while Valencia finds itself desperate for points in its fight against relegation.

This fixture, originally scheduled for November, was postponed due to fatal flooding in the Valencian region. Now, it has been rescheduled for this Friday night, and both teams will be eager to set the tone for the second half of the La Liga season.

Key Match Details

  • Location: Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain
  • Date: Friday, 3 January 2025
  • Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
  • Referee: César Soto Grado
  • VAR: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz

Recent Form: How Both Teams Are Coming into This Match

Before delving into the lineup predictions and tactical previews, it is essential to review the recent form of both teams as they approach this fixture.

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Giorgi Mamardashvili could be absent / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Valencia’s Current Form: Struggling Near the Bottom

Valencia’s struggles this season have been evident, with the team currently languishing in 19th place in La Liga. The club has been unable to generate much momentum, having failed to win any of their last five matches. Under the leadership of former West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberán, who took over in December, the home side has a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation.

Despite the dire situation, Corberán will be hoping to turn things around with a positive result against one of Spain’s elite clubs. However, injuries, suspensions, and a general lack of consistency have hindered his attempts to stabilise the squad. The absence of several key players, including defensive regulars, will make it difficult for the home side to mount a serious challenge against Real Madrid.

Recent Results for Valencia

DateMatchResult
22/12/2024Valencia vs Alaves2-2 Draw
18/12/2024Espanyol vs Valencia1-1 Draw
13/12/2024Real Valladolid vs Valencia1-0 Loss
07/12/2024Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano0-1 Loss
04/12/2024Ejea vs Valencia1-3 Win

Real Madrid’s Current Form: In the Hunt for Top Spot

Real Madrid, on the other hand, has been in solid form recently, with a few ups and downs. Despite some inconsistent results away from home, Los Blancos have managed to stay within touching distance of Atlético Madrid at the top of the table. A win on Friday would not only take them above Atlético but also serve as the perfect way to kick off a busy period that includes Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España fixtures in the coming days.

The team’s attack has been firing on all cylinders, with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior playing crucial roles. Despite key injuries at the back, including the long-term absences of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militão, Real Madrid still has enough quality in their squad to maintain their push for the title.

Recent Results for Real Madrid

DateMatchResult
22/12/2024Real Madrid vs Sevilla4-2 Win
18/12/2024Real Madrid vs Pachuca3-0 Win
14/12/2024Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid3-3 Draw
10/12/2024Atalanta vs Real Madrid2-3 Win
07/12/2024Girona vs Real Madrid0-3 Win

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Injury Woes and Suspension

Valencia’s injury list is a growing concern as they head into this match. The club has been hit hard by several key absences, particularly in defense, which will significantly affect their ability to cope with Real Madrid’s attacking threat. Mouctar Diakhaby, José Gaya, and Thierry Correia are all unavailable for the match, with Correia’s injury ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Additionally, influential midfielder Pepelu will miss the match due to suspension, leaving a hole in Valencia’s midfield that may prove difficult to fill. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is also a doubt, having been sidelined with a thigh injury since early December. With a depleted squad, Carlos Corberán will have to make the best of the available options, and a resilient team performance will be required if they are to avoid another defeat.

Valencia Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

PositionPlayer
GoalkeeperDimitrievski
Right-backFoulquier
Center-backMosquera
Center-backGasiorowski
Left-backRioja
Defensive MidBarrenechea
Defensive MidGuerra
Attacking MidCanos
Attacking MidAlmeida
Attacking MidLopez
StrikerDuro

Real Madrid: Injury Concerns at the Back

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Vinicius Junior is back from suspension / Simon Holmes/GettyImages

Real Madrid will be without three key defenders for this match. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militão are both sidelined for the rest of the season, while David Alaba is still recovering from a long injury layoff and is unlikely to feature until later in the month. Despite these defensive absences, manager Carlo Ancelotti still has plenty of attacking firepower at his disposal.

Vinícius Júnior, who missed the win over Sevilla due to suspension, will return to the starting lineup. He will be joined by Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo in a dangerous attacking trio. In defense, Aurelien Tchouaméni is expected to step in at center-back once again, with Eduardo Camavinga slotting in at defensive midfield. Left-back Fran García could also get the nod over Ferland Mendy, who has been out of form this season.

Real Madrid Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

PositionPlayer
GoalkeeperCourtois
Right-backVazquez
Center-backTchouaméni
Center-backRudiger
Left-backGarcía
Central MidfieldValverde
Central MidfieldCamavinga
Central MidfieldBellingham
Right-wingRodrygo
Left-wingVinícius Júnior
StrikerMbappé

Tactical Preview

Valencia’s Struggles Against the Big Teams

Valencia’s position near the relegation zone reflects their overall struggles this season. They have been inconsistent both offensively and defensively, and their upcoming clash with Real Madrid seems to be a daunting task. The key for Valencia will be to maintain a solid defensive shape, despite their injury woes. The absence of several defensive stalwarts means that Corberán’s side will likely sit deep, looking to counter-attack and capitalize on any mistakes from Madrid’s defensive unit.

The midfield will be crucial in this regard. With Pepelu unavailable, the responsibility of controlling the game will fall on Guerra and Barrenechea, who will need to disrupt Madrid’s midfield flow and launch fast breaks to their attacking trio.

Real Madrid’s Attack vs. Valencia’s Defense

Real Madrid, in contrast, has an abundance of attacking talent. With Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo leading the charge, the onus will be on Valencia’s defense to keep them at bay. Despite missing key players at the back, Real Madrid’s attacking options should be enough to test the patched-up Valencia defense. Tchouaméni and Camavinga’s defensive solidity will also offer extra cover, allowing Real Madrid to dominate possession and create goal-scoring opportunities.

Real Madrid’s wing play, particularly from Vinícius and Mbappé, could prove devastating for Valencia’s makeshift defense. If they can break through the defensive lines early, the floodgates may open, and it could become a long night for Corberán’s men.

Prediction

Given Valencia’s current form and the significant number of absentees in their squad, it is hard to see them standing up to a Real Madrid side that is firing on all cylinders in attack. While the home side will no doubt fight hard, Los Blancos have far too much quality, particularly in the attacking third.

Prediction: Valencia 1-3 Real Madrid

Real Madrid should have enough firepower to secure all three points and move to the top of La Liga, at least temporarily, before their busy schedule continues. For Valencia, the struggle for survival continues, and unless they can significantly improve their form, relegation seems

a real possibility.

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