Real Madrid v Valencia

Real Madrid welcome Valencia to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday evening in what’s sure to be a thrilling encounter between two giants of the Spanish game. There are plenty of interesting betting angles here, and this article will explore the key facts and statistics to assist with creating the perfect Bet Builder.

There is simply no better way to spend a Saturday evening than taking in some top-class European football, so settle in and watch this entertaining spectacle unfold.

Carlo Ancelotti was left feeling frustrated last weekend as his side failed to capitalise on a dominant performance against Rayo Vallecano as they played out a 0-0 draw in front of an expectant home crowd.

That result means that Los Blancos remain in second place, two points behind early pace-setters Girona, but crucially still two points ahead of title rivals Barcelona who closed the gap in third place with a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad. The hosts will be looking to get their league campaign back on track here as they aim to wrestle back the title from Xavi’s Catalan club.

Former Valencia midfielder Rubén Baraja is now the manager of the club for which he made over 250 appearances as a player during the golden era that saw Los Ches capture two La Liga titles in the early 2000s under the stewardship of Rafa Benitez.

Having replaced Gennaro Gattuso in February, Baraja has been tasked with bringing back the glory years to The Mestalla and has made a steady start to his reign, boasting a 40% win rate. The visitors arrive in great form and are unbeaten in their last five, currently occupying 8th place in the table as they chase European qualification.

These sides met three times last season with Real Madrid fairing slightly better. The first game saw Ancelotti’s men progress to the final of the Spanish Super Cup on penalties as Samuel Lino’s second-half strike cancelled out Karim Benzema’s first-half penalty in a 1-1 draw.

Just a few weeks later Real Madrid ran out 2-0 winners at the Santiago Bernabéu with goals from Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior. However, it’s Valencia that prevailed in the latest meeting as a Diego Lopez goal sealed a 1-0 victory at the Mestalla with Vinicius Junior receiving a straight red late on.

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Real Madrid v Valencia Cheat Sheet

This Cheat Sheet and Preview was created using predicted lineups.

The research in this piece has been pulled together using the Real Madrid v Valencia Cheat Sheet. There’s a wide range of stats to choose from, be it player passes or team corners. There are also referee statistics in the middle of the sheet too.

You’re encouraged to use the Cheat Sheet in any way that you want. However, a brief example could be to match up the highest fouls committed by Real Madrid to the highest fouls drawn for Valencia.

You can find Real Madrid v Valencia stats on my Bet Builder stats tool, along with official lineups one hour before kick-off.

Now, for my breakdown and preview with recommended bets…

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⚪🟠 Real Madrid v Valencia stats: Ancelotti’s side in transition, whilst youthful Los Ches building something special

Real Madrid have been a team in transition over the past few seasons as club icons such as Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo have all moved on to pastures new. However, a blend of new talent, coupled with some experienced heads that remain at the club has made for a seamless transition.

Jude Bellingham has been a revelation this season and is showing maturity beyond his years while the talented French pairing of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga make for a sensational midfield alongside the craft and experience of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. There is a lot to like about this current crop of talent.

Ancelotti defended the club in the media this week when pressed about the lack of preparation to replace Benzema. However, with Vinicius Junior back fit and firing, the inability to convert chances may be behind them and the Brazilian can help share the responsibility that has been heavily shouldered by the young Bellingham.

Valencia have the youngest squad in La Liga with an average age of just 24.4 and there is a sense that Baraja is building something special at the club. With youthful exuberance and a strong and harmonious dressing room, the away side certainly arrive with hope of causing an upset and recording their first victory here since way back in 2008.

Young defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Thierry Correia play in front of the very consistent Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The exciting Fran Perez and Javier Guerra run the midfield engine while Hugo Duro provides the attacking impetus in a really energetic and attacking lineup that come here with no fear.

However, with that said, the Santiago Bernabéu can be a cauldron of noise and an intimidating venue for even the most experienced players and this game could be a step too far for this young squad in terms of their current trajectory. The home side are fancied to win the game with a degree of ease to further enhance their title credentials.

Predictions:

🏆 Real Madrid to win @ 1.29

🏆 Real Madrid (-1 handicap) @ 1.83

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⚽ Goals stats: Solid backline for Madrid

Real Madrid boast the best defensive record in the league as they have only conceded 8 goals in their 12 league games to date. That’s largely been down to a consistent back four which is made up of Ferland Mendy at left back, Daniel Carvajal at right back and a central defensive partnership of Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba.

However, Ancelotti’s squad depth will be tested in this game as Rudiger is set to miss out through suspension. Nacho Fernandez is likely to deputise and that could disrupt this otherwise solid-looking back line. With that said, there is more than enough experience to accommodate the changes and another solid defensive display is expected.

With Valencia’s concerns offensively, it’s more than conceivable that the home side will record yet another clean sheet. The 39 shots on target they have given up this season is only bettered by Sevilla and Atletico Madrid and the away side could be left frustrated here. If Duro can’t penetrate their rear-guard, Baraja’s side could draw a blank.

Predictions:

⚽ Both Teams to Score – No @ 1.75

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🎯 Shooting stats: Vinicius Jr to rediscover his form, and Hugo Duro to be the key for Valencia’s hopes

Vinicius Junior missed the early part of the campaign through injury but has returned to first team action in recent weeks and looks fresh and hungry for goals. There is an argument that the forward is missing the partnership he forged with Benzema, but there is no doubting the class he possesses and he’ll be fired up for this one.

There is also score to settle against Valencia. During the 1-0 defeat on the road last season, Vinicius Junior was the subject of racist abuse from the crowd shortly before he struck Hugo Duro which resulted in a red card. Ancelotti is a fantastic man manager and he’s publicly challenged his man to improve his attitude ahead of this game.

In the 2-0 win here last season the forward had 2 shots on target and managed to get himself on the scoresheet, and he’s strongly fancied to influence this game. Averaging 0.72 shots on target per game this season is a far cry from the average of 1.15 last term and he’ll be keen to improve his efficiency against a team where he’s been lethal.

Meanwhile, Valencia have been incredibly shot shy this season, amassing just 124 total shots in their 12 games, which is the third lowest in the league with only Cadiz and Las Palmas taking fewer. However, with the shots they have attempted, the visitors have been fairly efficient with 34.7% (43) hitting the target which is certainly something to focus on.

Hugo Duro is Valencia’s top scorer this campaign having netted 5 goals in his 12 appearances (11 starts and one from the bench). Interestingly, the former Real Madrid youth player has taken 21 shots with 10 of those hitting the target and he is likely to be the main threat going forward, providing there is no recurrence of his shoulder injury.

With Antonio Rudiger suspended for this game, there is every chance that Duro gets a few opportunities in front of goal and it’s not inconceivable that he manages a shot or two on the counterattack during the course of 90 minutes. His pace should cause plenty of problems for an aging Real Madrid defence and he’s likely to be involved.

Predictions:

⚽ Vinicius Junior to score anytime @ 2.20

🚀 Hugo Duro to have 1+ shots @ 1.22

🎯 Hugo Duro to have 1+ shots on target @ 2.25

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.

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