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Real Madrid can take top spot in La Liga on Friday if they win their match at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia. The home side are in second place in Spain’s top flight, while the visitors need just a point to reach the top. Los Che are four points behind Getafe in 17th place and recently appointed Carlos Corberan as their new head coach following the departure of Ruben Baraja. Four points from two home games in their last two meetings with Real is quite good for Valencia, but this team has not won since the end of November. With just two points from their last five, it’s no wonder they opted to bring in a new tactician with nine points from eight home games, a worrying result even if Real have won just four of nine so far. Carlo Ancelotti’s men need a point to go top but will be aiming for a 13th La Liga win of the year after winning the FIFA Intercontinental Cup last month. The Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa are next for Real, but first they need to work on their overall domestic form, which has fluctuated.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday January 3 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Location: Mestalla-Valencia, Spain
- Watch: ESPN Deportes | Current: Fubo (try for free)
- Chances: Valencia +750; Sign +375; Real -275
This season so far
Real leads Atletico Madrid by one point and leads Barcelona in third place by two points, while Valencia is numerically not above Real Valladolid’s low. With two wins, six draws and nine defeats, Los Che are in 19th place with 12 points, while Los Blancos scored 40 points from 18 games with a win over Sevilla before the winter break. This upcoming match, caused by the flood in Valencia earlier this season, could well be the moment that Real takes the lead.
Team news
Valencia: Jose Gaya, Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia are all out, while Fran Perez is doubtful and could also miss Giorgi Mamardashvili, which would mean a start for Stole Dimitrievski. Pepelu is suspended while Yarek Gasiorowski could defend himself against one of his many admirers.
Possible Valencia XI: Dimitrievsky; Foulquier, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Rioja; Barrenechea, Guerra; D Gomez, Almeida, D Lopez; Duro.
Real: Vinicius Junior is back from suspension so David Alaba, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are the only absentees. Ancelotti could make two changes, with Fran Garcia and Vini possibly coming in for Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz after the win in Seville.
Possible real XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, F Garcia; Camavinga, Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Prediction
This one should be easy enough for Real and a winning margin of one or two goals sounds about right, although Real will be hoping the new coach can bounce back. Choose: Valencia 0, Real 2.