Matchday 23 of La Liga Santander sees Real Madrid play host to Valencia at the Alfredo de Stefano Stadium in Madrid. The last time these two sides met in the Primera Divison, Valencia emerged victorious by four goals to one. Since then a lot has changed in the league and the visitors for Sunday evening are positioned 12th in the points table. Real Madrid have grown as a team in recent weeks with impressive results despite injury struggles and will want to avenge the humiliation caused to them by Valencia in the first half of the season.
Team News
Real Madrid
Los Blancos are crippled by injuries and will be missing as many as eight first-team players against Valencia. Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard and Rodrygo have been on the sidelines for a while now, and they will not be participating in Sunday’s contest. The likes of Lucas Vasquez, Alvaro Odriozola, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Marcelo are also ruled out of contention with their respective injuries.
Predicted XI – Courtois, Vinicius, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Asensio, Benzema, Isco
Valencia
Javi Gracia will have a full strength squad at his disposal except for the duo of Mouctar Diakhaby and Jasper Cillessen who are ruled out with muscular injuries. The visiting side will also have to be cautious with Maxi Gomez and Carlos Soler as they have amassed 4 yellow cards each.
Predicted XI – Doménech, Correia, Gabriel, Guillamón, Gaya, Wass, Soler, Račić, Guedes, Gomez, Vallejo
Real Madrid Vs Valencia Tactical Preview
Talking Tactics
Real Madrid
Zidane will be fielding a side that will be without first-team regulars, and the manager would want to get his tactics right at any cost. Los Blancos are aware of the dangers that Valencia possesses on the counter from their clash earlier on in the season. The French gaffer will need to lay emphasis on the team functioning as a unit and defending as a unit. The likes of Isco and Asensio in the line-up will allow Real Madrid a more direct approach at goal.
Valencia
The points table is an inaccurate representation of the sort of quality that Valencia possesses. The team will not be enjoying the lion’s share of possession against Real on Sunday and will have to patiently wait for the chance to hit them on the counter. Valencia will keep things as tight at the back as possible as they are also aware of the sort of firepower their opposition boasts even on one of their worst days.
Key Men
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema will be Real Madrid’s go to man upfront. The French striker is the side’s top scorer this season and is also competing in the highest goal scorers charts for the term with 11 goals to his credit. Benzema was accurate against Getafe with his header and a similar moment of magic will be expected out of him at the Alfredo De Stefano Stadium.
Valencia
Valencia will be relying on Maxi Gomez for goals upfront. The Uruguayan striker has found the back of the net on five occasions this season and coach, Javi Gracia will want his attacker to be amongst the goals once again. Gomez and Soler have shown some amazing chemistry this season in front of goal, and these two will be pivotal if Valencia are to come away with anything from their trip to Madrid.