Prediction: Valencia vs Real Madrid

Verdict: Real Madrid win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the La Liga table this weekend, Real Madrid will travel to the Mestalla when they meet Valencia on Saturday night.

Valencia

Starting with the hosts, while Valencia might have opened the New Year enjoying a real domestic flurry, the Bats have struggled to find much stability over the past month. Missing out on what they had billed as a potential opportunity last week as they had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate at home against Sevilla, Ruben Baraja’s men have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous four La Liga appearances. Likewise, along with crashing out of the Copa del Rey last month as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home against Celta Vigo, Valencia have shown some recent issues in the final third. Signing off January with a 2-0 loss at the hands of Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid, Valencia have failed to find the net in three of their previous four top-flight showdowns. Hit with a 5-1 drumming when they travelled to Real Madrid for their reverse La Liga meeting back on November 11th, Baraja’s side will be bracing themselves for another stern examination on Saturday night.

Team News

Still dealing with a long-term muscle injury and not making a single appearance across any competition since the start of October, Valencia will once again be unable to call upon 23-year-old Andre Almeida. Likewise, after sustaining a calf injury last month, former Sporting Lisbon starlet Thierry Correia remains a real doubt here.

While Ukraine international Roman Yaremchuk might have scored just a single goal in any of his previous six appearances across all competitions, the 28-year-old will lead Valencia’s charge on Saturday night. One-time Real Maid forward Hugo Duro will feature against his former club this weekend.

Real Madrid

As for the visitors, while Real Madrid might have eventually finished 10 points adrift of defending their La Liga crown last season, Los Blancos are firing on all cylinders this time around. Putting in another gritty performance last week as they secured a 1-0 victory at home against Sevilla, Carlo Ancelotti’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Opening Saturday’s showdown holding a six-point buffer at the top of the table, the Spanish icons will be looking to make another statement here. Getting their Champions League knockout stage adventure underway last month with a 1-0 win away at German outfit RB Leipzig, Real Madrid have lost just one of their previous 30 straight appearances across all formats – a run that stems all the way back to September 24th. Storming their way to that stellar 5-1 romp when they welcomed Valencia to the capital for their reverse battle on November 11th, the ex-AC Milan boss will be calling on a repeat performance here.

Team News

While Jude Bellingham might be inching closer to a return from an ankle injury, the England international is not expected to feature on Saturday night. Likewise, all still dealing with respective long-term knee issues, the likes of Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba remain on the sidelines.

However, after serving a one-match suspension against Sevilla, French international Eduardo Camavinga will return on Saturday night. Coming off the bench and bagging a late winner in the capital last week, former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric could be handed a full recall by Ancelotti here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Valencia and Real Madrid met for their reverse La Liga showdown back on November 11th, Los Blancos picked up a 5-1 romp on home soil.
• Ancelotti’s men have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous 30 appearances across all competitions.
• Valencia have claimed just a single victory from any of their previous four La Liga appearances.
• Real Madrid have conceded just a single goal in any of their last four matchups across all competitions.
• Four of Madrid’s last five La Liga away fixtures have finished with under 2.5 goals.

Conclusion

Opening Saturday’s trip to the Mestalla holding a six-point buffer over the chasing pack, Real Madrid will simply be looking to make another domestic statement here. Remarkably suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous 30 appearances across all competitions, Ancelotti’s squad will be hoping to cash in on a Valencia squad that are seeking some recent stability. With Los Blancos continuing to gain a reputation for their rugged performances at the back, we are backing Madrid to extend on their stellar purple patch this weekend.

Verdict: Real Madrid win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Olympusbet