Valencia vs Real Madrid
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Sunday, 15 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla (Valencia).
Valencia will feel good about themselves heading into this weekend's contest when considering that they booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Ajax on Tuesday night.
Los Che also win away at Chelsea during the group stages of a European competition, while they will enter this game on the back of a run to win three matches after also winless in their last two league events.
Indeed, Albert Celades's side have beaten Villarreal and Levante in their last two domestic matches to move into eighth place of the standings with a record of seven wins, five draws and four defeats.
Los Che are just one point of fourth-placed Real Sociedad, although they are eight behind second-placed Madrid, which Barca have a game in hand on the rest of the division.
Valencia recorded a 2-1 win when they last welcomed Los Blancos to the Mestalla in April, although the Zinedine Zidane has won in three of their last five meetings, including a 4-1 success at home to La Liga champions six times in January 2018.
Such as Valencia, Madrid will also enter this match on the back of positive European results, after recording a 3-1 win away to Club Brugge on Wednesday night. That said, the team Zidane had already booked their place in the knockout stages of the competition ahead of the mid-week contest.
Los Blancos were in a bit of a roll at the moment given that they have not lost in any competition since drops in Mallorca on October 19. Since then, they have played six times in the Spanish top flight and picking up five wins, including a victory in each of the last four games they.
Since the goalless draw at home to Real Betis on November 2 capital giants have overcome Eibar, Real Sociedad, Alaves and Espanyol to ensure that they will follow with Barca.
The second Clasico rivals have 34 points from their 15 league matches this season, and both will be desperate to take three points ahead of the weekend's El Clasico at Camp Nou on December 18.
Madrid will be full of confidence after winning their last four on the road in all competitions, despite the fact that they will have a little less time to recover from Valencia has not been able to play a part this weekend.
form Valencia La Liga: DWWLWW
Valencia shape (all competitions): WLDWWW
forms of competition Real Madrid La Liga: WDWWWW
Real Madrid form (all competitions): WWDWWW
News Team
Valencia
Kevin Gameiro and Maxi Gomez are both out through injury, so Rodrigo should start up front unchallenged.
Jasper Cillessen is still sidelined with a calf injury, so Jaume Domenech will feature in between the sticks.
Manu Vallejo and Ferran Torres is expected to be deployed over a wide area by Albert Celades.
Real Madrid
Ferland Mende banned for the away side, who will see Nacho started back left.
Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale is expected to lead the line for Real Madrid.
Luka Modric is likely to help to pack the midfield for Zinedine Zidane have key strikers injured.
Prediction
Valencia have won their last three games, even coming from behind the last time in LaLiga to beat local rivals Levante.
The hosts have not lost in their last six games at the Mestalla, as a form continues to look promising under their new coach.
Real Madrid will have one eye on the midweek clash next week's El Clasico against Barcelona, but arrived unbeaten in 10.
Prediction: Valencia 2 2 Real Madrid
