With just one win and two draws in their past seven matches, Valencia opens the gate of the Estadio Mestalla to Real Madrid. Javi Garcia’s side sit in 13th, one place behind Barcelona and three points from the relegation zone.
It’s been a strange week for the host, selling Geoffrey Kondogbia to Atlético Madrid after Diego Simeone’s side received a special dispensation to replace Thomas Partey. The deal was not cordial, with Kondogbia blasting the club for their recruitment philosophy.
On the other bench, Real Madrid comes into this match hot off a consecutive wins against Huesca and Inter Milan. After a slow start, Zinedine Zidane’s side is finding their form, as well as the preferred starting XI. Depending on Real Sociedad’s result against Granada, Los Blancos can leapfrog La Real and claim the top spot on the table.
In this tactical analysis, we’ll examine the significance of the wings for each team’s attacking tactics. Real Madrid’s high press is another topic of consideration, then this analysis will finish with a look at what Valencia can do a little differently to find success against the reigning La Liga champions.
Predicted lineups
Valencias predicted starting XI (4-4-2): Jaume Doménech, Daniel Wass, Gabriel Paulista, Hugo Guillamón, José Gayà; Yunus Musah, Carlos Soler, Uroš Račić, Denis Cheryshev; Maxi Gómez, Gonçalo Guedes
Look for Garcia to set Valencia out in his preferred 4-4-2 with Doménech in goal. With Correia out, Wass is likely to move into the right-back role he played last season, accompanied on the backline by Paulista, Guillamón and Gayà. From right to left in the flat midfield, expect the young American, Musah, Soler, Račić and Cheryshev. Rounding out the formation are Guedes and Gómez up top.
