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Late drama has been the name of the game for Valencia and Real Madrid in recent matches, and now they meet in LaLiga with fans of both knowing anything can happen until the last minute.
Valencia need to get back to winning ways to create some space between themselves and the relegation zone. They currently sit 16th in the table and are only a point away from Rayo Vallecano in 18th. Real Madrid are always a daunting opponent, and Valencia will try to take hope from their home form, despite losing in the Copa del Rey in their last game. In the league, they are unbeaten at the Mestalla in six games, yet they have only won two of those (D4). However, this is their longest unbeaten run since a sequence of 11 games that ended in March 2024.
Real are in decent form, winning four of their last five (L1). If they win this game, then Álvaro Arbeloa would become just the sixth Los Blancos manager to win his first four La Liga matches. Having not lost in the league away since September, confidence will be high in the Madrid camp.
Valencia v Real Madrid key information
• Date: Sunday, February 8
• Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
• Venue: Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia
• Referee: N/A
• VAR: N/A
• TV channels: Premier Sports 1(UK)
• Odds: VAL (9/2) - DRAW (15/4) - RMA (8/15)
Valencia team news
Valencia are only missing players from their back line. Goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabal is out with a hamstring injury, whilst defender Mouctar Diakhaby is out with a muscle injury. His fellow defender, Thierry Correria, could make his return to the team after five games out with a hamstring injury.
The visit of Real Madrid will be a bit deeper for some players, as two were previously on their books. Luis Rioja, who was briefly on Madrid’s books, netted in Valencia’s last league game, with Hugo Duro, who has netted seven times for Valencia this season, also playing for Los Blancos for a season.
Valencia predicted lineup v Real Madrid, (4-4-2)
Coach: Carlos Corberan
Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Comert, Copete, Gaya; Rioja, Urginic, Pepelu, Danjuma; Beltran, Duro
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid may be without three of their most prominent attacking forces against Valencia. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are definitely out because of injury and suspension, respectively, whilst Rodrygo is a doubt with a muscle injury. Eder Militao will also miss the clash as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Whilst the attackers are falling, the defenders are returning with Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold all potentially making their return to the team in this game after lay-offs.
Real Madrid predicted lineup v Valencia, (4-3-3)
Coach: Álvaro Arbeloa
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Mastantuono, Garcia, Mbappé
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
Real Madrid’s trip to Valencia will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK. To watch, you need to have a Premier Sports subscription, and then the match can be streamed online or on Sky.
Head-to-Head record
Madrid have a favourable record against Valencia. Both home and away, Real have won three of the last five (D1, L1). At the Mestalla, they have only lost once in their last four visits (W2, D1), scoring exactly twice in three of those games.
Coming into the game, Real are also in better form. They are unbeaten in the league since December and have only lost one of their last five in all competitions. Valencia have lost their last two in all competitions, but were on a three-game winning streak before that.
Odds for Valencia v Real Madrid
Valencia are outsiders to win this game, with bet365 having them at 9/2 to win, compared to Real Madrid, who are at 8/15. A draw between the two is at 15/4.
Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change.