Valencia vs Real Madrid
⏱️La Liga, KO: 20:00 Jan 3, 2025, Estadio de Mestalla
Valencia go head-to-head against Real Madrid on Friday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Olympique Lyon will be aiming to build on the Coupe de France win over Feignies-Aulnoye when they take on Montpellier in the Ligue 1 round 16. Les Gones are on a three-game winning run at home in all competitions and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. Nicolas Tagliafico is back from suspension as well as Duje Caleta-Car, while Corentin Tolisso should recover in time to face Montpellier.
La Paillade, on the other hand, are on a five-game winless run in all competitions. As Lyon have been producing fine performances in front of goal of late, we predict that Jean-Louis Gasset’s men are going to return home with their hands empty. It has to be noted that Montpellier suffered an embarrassing 4-0 loss to lower-league side Le Puy-en-Velay in the French Cup last 64. Both Enzo Tchato and Modibo Sagnan are back from suspension for the visiting team.
How the bookies view it: Los Blancos too strong
Real Madrid have been installed as overwhelming favourites and are priced at 4/11 by 777Pub to claim the win. Valencia are considered outsiders at 13/2 while a draw is set at 7/2.
Players to watch: No answers for Vinicius
Vinicius Junior has a great scoring record against Valencia and has been on target eight times in the last six meetings. The forward also has nine goals in the last eight matches in all competitions for Real Madrid and is priced at 5/4 by 777Pub to maintain his scoring run.
Hugo Duro has four La Liga goals for Valencia this season and will be the one to watch on Friday. The striker has also been on target in the last two meetings with Real Madrid and is priced at 7/2 by 777Pub to get on the score sheet once again.
Probable line-ups
Valencia have a lengthy injury list with Rafa Mir, Jose Gaya, Pepelu and Mouctar Diakhaby all sidelined. Duro should lead the line for the hosts once again while Enzo Barrenechea should feature in midfield.
Vinicius Junior missed the win over Sevilla through suspension and should return for Real Madrid on Friday. The Brazilian forward should feature in attack alongside Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe while Antonio Rudiger is set to continue at the back.
Valencia: Dimitrievski, Foulquier, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Richard, Guerra, Barrenechea, Lopez, Almeida, Perez, Duro
Real Madrid: Courtois, Camavinga, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez Valverde, Bellingham, Diaz, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Mbappe
Valencia vs Real Madrid Prediction
A real buzz is expected in and around Estadio de Mestalla on Friday as Valencia and Real Madrid are set to lock horns in an intriguing encounter.
Los Blancos’ sensational first half performance earned them maximum points in a resounding 4-2 victory against Sevilla in their last outing.
The triumph extends their league unbeaten streak to three matches, propelling them to second place, one point behind league leaders Atletico Madrid.
Similarly, they seem to have found their rhythm away from home, with a three-game unbeaten streak preceding this encounter.
Conversely, Valencia woes continue following a disappointing performance in a 2-2 draw against Alaves on match-day eighteen.
This stalemate stretched their winless streak to four matches, prompting the firing of head coach Ruben Baraja and the appointment of Carlos Corberan, who will face the reigning champions in his first game in charge.
Meanwhile, they have only won once in their previous five home games and are currently seeded nineteenth in the log.
Los Blancos have not lost to Valencia since 2023 and they have won three of the last five meetings.
The gulf in quality between the two teams is enormous and we can hardly expect anything other than a comprehensive victory for Real Madrid on Friday.
Real Madrid’s defense has been exposed in recent games and we expect Valencia to pounce on their weakness, making both teams to score a plausible option.
Kylian Mbappe is in tremendous form with four goals in his last four games across all competitions and we are tipping the Real Madrid forward to increase his goal tally in this matchup.
