This weekend, Valencia will host Real Madrid in a top of the table clash in the fifth round of the 2021/22 La Liga season.
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla (Valencia)
Key Statistics
Valencia are unbeaten in their last six La Liga matches.
They are currently the team with the least goals conceded among the La Liga top four teams.
Despite topping the table, Real Madrid have the joint-third worst defence in La Liga.
But they have scored the most goals in La Liga this season—13 goals.
Head to head (H2H)
Real Madrid have won three of the last five meetings between both sides. Overall, they also have a better head-to-head record as they have won 89 of the 172 meetings between both sides (L46, D37).
Latest Performances
Valencia: W-W-D-W-D
Real Madrid: W-W-W-D-W
Valencia
After a poor campaign last season, Valencia have begun this La Liga season very well. They are sitting in second place after four games and look like a side prepared to go the distance.
The six-time La Liga winners are looking to make the most of their new season and are entering this match on the back of an impressive 4-1 win over Osasuna.
José Bordalás and his men have won their last four La Liga hoke games and will look to make it five wins in five here.
They will hope for a repeat of last season’s home result when they beat Madrid 4-1 in one of their biggest wins in this fixture.
Knee injuries to Denis Cheryshev and Hugo Duro mean that José Bordalás will have to continue his fine form this season without both players
Possible Valencia starting line-ups
Mamardashvili; Gabriel Paulista, Omar Alderete, Jose Gaya, Thierry Correia; Hugo Guillamon, Daniel Wass, Carlos Soler, Dimitri Foulquier; Goncalo Guedes, Maxi Gomez.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will look to make it three La Liga wins in a row and five wins in all competitions when they travel to Valencia this Sunday.
Los Blancos overcame a patchy start to the season to shoot themselves to the top of the La Liga table after four games.
Now they face a transformed Valencia side who are also gunning for the top of the table.
Carlo Ancelloti’s head into this game as favourites and will want to establish their dominance in the league this early.
They have won five of their last six away games in all competitions and have the squad and ability to extend that unbeaten run further.
In La Liga, they have not lost an away game in 17 games (W11, D6). Their last defeat on the road came against Valencia in November last year, so they will head into this game looking to avenge that embarrassing loss.
Gareth Bale, Dani Ceballos, Toni Kroos and Marcelo are all injury doubts for this tie.
Possible Real Madrid line-ups
Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Nacho, Miguel Gutierrez, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard.
Probability
Valencia win : Draw : Real Madrid win :: 25% : 25% : 50%
Prediction
Valencia have begun the season well and are already ahead of more established names like Barcelona and Sevilla in the table.
But they have not faced any strong opponents so far. This match against Real Madrid offers them their first taste of a difficult opponent. If they can win here, then they can be taken seriously this season. However, a win is unlikely for them as Madrid are superior to them.
