Madrid Voice
·3 January 2025
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsMadrid Voice
·3 January 2025
It’s the New Year and Real Madrid return to La Liga action as they take on Valencia at the Mestalla.
This match was supposed to take place on match day 12, however, the game was postponed due to the floods in Valencia. Hence, this is also the game that the Merengues had in hand over Barcelona.
Barring Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, the rest of the squad returned to the training sessions since 30th December.
David Alaba is expected to return on 20th January, according to Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian manager acknowledged the fact that he would be able to rotate the squad more once the Austrian returns.
Moreover, Antonio Rüdiger received some well deserved rest after starting in 25 of Madrid’s 26 matches this season.
The German is expected to partner up with Aurelien Tchouaméni who would like to turn the tide of his performances so far this season, with the Frenchman being underwhelming. But he has looked much better playing as a centre-back as compared to his natural position as a pivot.
This has meant that youngster Raul Asencio has not received enough minutes in the past few games, only coming on as a substitute in the end of matches.
As always, Ancelotti will be spoilt for choices in midfield even if Eduardo Camavinga plays as a left back, which means the Italian can give opportunities to players like Dani Ceballos, Luka Modric and Arda Güler.
Dani Ceballos in particular has emerged as an unexpected hero in recent matches. The Spaniard’s positioning and defensive workrate has allowed players like Jude Bellingham to play with more freedom. That is seen with the Bellingham’s increase in input on the attacking front, scoring goals and recording assists.
The headline of the last match of the year against Sevilla was the performance of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman seems to have found his footing and this is now a crucial phase of the season where the World Cup winner has to up the ante.
The world is truly aware of Mbappe’s potential and his ability to win games single handedly is what Real Madrid will need with games coming thick fast for the second half of the season.
Rodrygo is looking a while different player altogether and Vinicius has been at his ultimate best, forming a lethal trio with Mbappe up front.
Valencia on the other hand, are languishing in the relegation zone on 19th, with just 2 wins in 17 games this season. This form also led to the club sacking manager Ruben Baraja and appointing Carlos Corberan from West Bromwich Albion to take charge in a three-year contract.
Tonight’s fixture will be the Spanish manager’s first game in charge at the helm and he would look to make an instant impact and take Valencia out of the relegation zone as soon as possible.
Hugo Duro has been Valencia’s leading goal scorer with 4 goals in 14 matches. Other useful contributions have come from the midfield of Luis Rioja Diego Lopez and Pepelu.
Their defence has been better than some of the mid table and top of the table clubs this season, conceding 26 goals.
Real Madrid’s attack has been firing on all cylinders since the start of December and these are not good signs for Valencia. But Valencia will be motivated by the fact that Real Madrid have recorded just 2 wins in their last 10 visits to Mestalla, along with 3 draws and 5 losses.
The Merengues will be the league leaders – for the time being – in case they seal a victory tonight and they would not ask for a better start to 2025.