La Liga: Stuttering Madrid Face A Real And Present Danger In Valencia

Real Madrid vs Valencia

It’s not time to panic yet, and I’m sure nobody at the Santiago Bernabeu is having sleepless nights, but nerves can always start to appear when a team sees a lead begin to shrink.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid sit at the top of the La Liga table, five points clear of Sevilla who have a game in hand, but three games ago Los Blancos’ march was relentless and they were starting to look uncatchable, but a win, a draw and a defeat has opened the door, just slightly, for los Sevillanos.

Last week Real Madrid’s visit to Getafe threw up one of the shock La Liga 2022 results of the season as Ancelotti’s men went down to a 1-0 defeat though, with respect to their opponents, Getafe are a smart outfit with the ability to beat anyone on their day. On Saturday Real Madrid face Valencia, another dangerous customer who sit just outside the European places and have won five from the last six in all competitions.

Another slip up here will really put the cat among the pigeons, particularly if Sevilla can take care of Getafe who are their visitors on Sunday.

Talking Points

Misfiring los Blancos set their sights on Valencia

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With the top scorer in the division and with daylight between themselves and the second-placed team, it may seem odd to say Real Madrid are misfiring, but they have drawn a blank in two of their last three games, yielding just one point in the process. See off Valencia and all will be well, but another setback would represent a worrying trend.

At SBOTOP odds of 1.37 to win this game Los Blancos are favoured to stop any serious slide and the La Liga 2022 betting odds are still right behind Ancelotti’s team to win back the league trophy from Atletico. Karim Benzema with 15 goals and seven assists has been the standout player in the league, while Vinicius Junior with 10 goals and four assists has been a brilliant strike partner. But the young Brazilian is one of four players who tested positive for Covid last week; he missed the defeat to Getafe and is doubtful again for this game. That could mean a return for Eden Hazard, who came off the bench against Getafe, alongside Benzema and Marco Asensio.

Los Blancos’ last home game resulted in a 0-0 draw with lowly Cadiz, though with a staggering 36 shots on goal it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

2022 is going to be a great year for football, culminating in the Qatar World Cup, and for Los Blancos it could be a mega year too, with European and domestic targets in sight. It still looks like only Sevilla could stop Real Madrid, after Lucas Ocampos gave them a win over Cadiz, and they won’t be easy to shake off.

Valencia’s midfield muscle

Madrid’s opponents sit in ninth place, but only two points behind a Europa League spot and four behind a Champions League place and they are on a decent run of form. Los Ches come into the game on the back of a Copa Del Rey win over Cartagena, but last week they lost on their return to La Liga action 1-2 at home to Espanyol, the first loss in five.

Carlos Soler currently has 7 goals scored in La Liga — Carlos Soler scored twice in Valencia’s 3-4 away win against Levante

They did win their last league game on the road; coming out on the right side of a seven-goal thriller away to Levante as midfield duo Carlos Soler and Goncalo Guedes both scored a brace. Head coach Pepe Bordelas must be delighted with his midfield men; captain Soler has scored seven goals while Guedes has scored six and made four assists and Helder Costa, on loan from Leeds United, adds some Premier League punch and style. Serbian midfielder Uros Racic could be back after suspension after picking up two yellows away to Levante.

21-year-old centre-back Hugo Guillamon, partnered with Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete will be well briefed on the Real attack and how Cadiz and Getafe managed to keep out Los Blancos.

History

Real Madrid have had the better of the head to heads, winning 36 to Valencia’s 14 of the last 64 games and there have 14 draws. Four months ago Madrid triumphed at the Mestalla Stadium by 2-1 and last season they won 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Recent form looks good for Valencia, who have won five of their last six games, one more than Real Madrid over that period; but Los Ches have failed to win at the Santiago Bernabeu in their last 15 visits and Los Blancos are unbeaten in their last eight games at home this season

Betting Tip

	Real Madrid vs Valencia	Over 2.50 @ 1.84
	January 9, 04:00 (GMT+8)

At 7.33 for a Valencia win and 4.45 for a draw there is good value for another Real Madrid hiccup, but I can’t see Ancelotti’s side folding at home again. If Los Ches can keep Madrid’s attackers contained and their midfield four can match their hosts then I think they can push the leaders close. Not all the way…but close.