Valencia Clash with Real Madrid: Battle Preview, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Real Madrid continue to match Barcelona's pace in the La Liga championship battle, though a challenging away fixture awaits Álvaro Arbeloa's team at the Mestalla stadium.
Despite Valencia's struggles in 16th position, Rayo Vallecano arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu last week in poor form yet nearly secured a draw. Madrid were dominated for large portions of the second half during eleven-versus-eleven play, but Pathe Ciss's dismissal enabled the home side to increase pressure, ultimately breaking through in the 100th minute.
Recent visits to the Mestalla have proven problematic for Los Blancos. They've secured victory in only one of their last three trips, with any success since 2021 coming by narrow margins.
Similar to Rayo, Valencia battle relegation during another underwhelming domestic season. Though Carlos Corberán stabilized matters last term, achieving 12th place, Sunday's home team hasn't progressed as anticipated during Corberán's inaugural complete campaign.
They've claimed merely five La Liga victories and sit just one point clear of relegation. Madrid secured a commanding 4–0 triumph in the earlier meeting.
Here is Sports Illustrated's match preview.
What Time Does Valencia vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?
What Time Does Valencia vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?
Valencia vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Valencia vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Valencia (LLWWW) | Real Madrid (WLWWW) |
|---|---|
Valencia 1–2 Athletic Club | Real Madrid 2–1 Rayo Vallecano |
Real Betis 2–1 Valencia | Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid |
Valencia 3–2 Espanyol | Villarreal 0–2 Real Madrid |
Getafe 0–1 Valencia | Real Madrid 6–1 Monaco |
Burgos 0–2 Valencia | Real Madrid 2–0 Levante |
How to Watch Valencia vs. Real Madrid on TV, Live Stream
How to Watch Valencia vs. Real Madrid on TV, Live Stream
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United States | ESPN Select, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes, fubtoTV |
United Kingdom | Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports Player |
Canada | TSN+ |
Mexico | Sky Sports Mexico, Sky+, izzi |
Valencia Team News
Valencia Team News
Corberán might draw positives from Wednesday's Copa del Rey loss, as his team fell to a late decisive blow against Athletic Club.
Valencia veteran José Gayà is expected to return to the starting eleven at left-back, while former Real Madrid forward Hugo Duro could regain his place in Corberán's lineup after appearing as a substitute midweek. Duro tops Valencia's La Liga goal tally with seven strikes in 21 appearances.
The home side will be missing suspended Cristian Rivero, while Thierry Correia and Julen Agirrezabala are recovering from hamstring problems.
Valencia Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Valencia Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Valencia predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-4-2): Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Cömert, Copete, Gayà; Rioja, Ugrinic, Pepelu, Danjuma, Duro, Beltrán.
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid Team News
Madrid suffered a major setback last weekend when Jude Bellingham sustained a hamstring problem. The England midfielder has escaped the worst-case scenario, though he'll be unavailable for several weeks.
Additional worries surround Rodrygo after he was absent from Thursday's training session, meaning Franco Mastantuono will keep his starting position despite a subdued performance against Rayo. Brahim Díaz remains an alternative option.
The away team might see Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger return from injury this weekend, though Trent Alexander-Arnold and Éder Militão remain unavailable. Vinicius Junior serves a suspension following yellow card accumulation.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Valencia
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Valencia
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Valencia (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Mastantuono, Güler, Díaz; Mbappe.
Valencia vs. Real Madrid Score Prediction
Valencia vs. Real Madrid Score Prediction
Injury concerns necessitate reduced reliance on individual brilliance from Arbeloa, who might actually benefit from Vini Jr and Bellingham's unavailability. A trio of eager young creators will likely support star striker Mbappé, who frequently rises to occasions demanding greater leadership.
Nevertheless, while Valencia face difficulties, recent performances show promise and Madrid's display last week should worry the potentially overconfident Arbeloa. The hosts will fight relentlessly for ninety minutes, seeking to disrupt their illustrious opponents, raising questions about Madrid's resilience.
Considering their recent Mestalla record, Valencia earning points against Madrid this weekend wouldn't shock anyone.
Prediction: Valencia 1–1 Real Madrid