Actual Madrid’s defeat to Benfica within the UEFA Champions League left the workforce hungry for revenge of their subsequent outing, and so they extracted a win over Rayo Vallecano on the Santiago Bernabeu final weekend.
Their efficiency, nevertheless, didn’t even seem near that of a workforce taking revenge for they had been dominated by the guests for an incredible a part of the sport and solely scored the winner after Rayo Vallecano had a participant despatched off.
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They return again on to the street for his or her recreation this weekend, and can face off in opposition to Valencia at Mestalla – a fixture that has not been a simple one for them over time. Extra importantly, they have to achieve this with a number of key names unavailable.
Madrid Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Valencia vs Actual Madrid.
Three starters down
Actual Madrid’s squad listing forward of the sport at Mestalla may have three main names lacking, and Alvaro Arbeloa has a large activity in making certain that the workforce doesn’t face any challenges coping with their absence.
That, nevertheless, is less complicated stated than finished when one considers how all three gamers are worthy starters in their very own proper.
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Jude Bellingham misses the sport after struggling a hamstring blow that has sidelined him for a month and can be unavailable in midfield. Vinicius Jr., who doesn’t have good recollections at Mestalla lately, additionally misses the sport by way of suspension.
The participant greatest poised to exchange him was Rodrygo Goes and the Brazilian additionally suffered a setback in coaching this week and .
One will count on Arbeloa to start out Arda Guler in Bellingham’s place, nevertheless it stays to be seen how the workforce adapts to the Englishman not being on the sector.
In assault, the issues compound provided that two large names are unavailable, and it stays to be seen how the supervisor strains his troops. Kylian Mbappe will begin, and will need to shoulder a lot of the accountability alone.
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Welcome again Trent
Trent returns. (Photograph by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Photos)
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s begin to life within the Spanish capital has been something however memorable thus far, particularly when one considers how accidents have merely refused at hand him any form of continuity.
His most up-to-date setback got here firstly of December when he went down injured in opposition to Athletic Membership in La Liga, and he has not travelled with the squad ever since.
Contemplating that Dani Carvajal was injured too, Actual Madrid performed a month with no pure right-back.
The brand new signing is predicted to return to the squad for the primary time for the sport at Mestalla, and a number of other experiences recommend that he won’t simply characteristic however even .
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Arbeloa and Co. have been very cautious with the defender’s state of affairs and haven’t allowed him again on the sector till he utterly recovers from his damage. Now that he’s at 100%, all indicators level to him beginning in opposition to Valencia which comes as a significant increase.
All eyes, evidently, can be on the right-back come Sunday evening and the participant will look to get off to a good begin post-injury. He does have huge expectations to fulfil, and tomorrow ought to hopefully be the beginning of a golden interval for him.
A menacing venue
Just a few stadiums throughout the globe perpetually hand Actual Madrid critical issues 12 months after 12 months, and Mestalla is among the few venues that fall in that class.
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Since 2015, Actual Madrid and Valencia have confronted off on the Mestalla on eleven events, of which Los Blancos got here out with three factors solely thrice. 5 video games led to Valencia’s wins whereas three led to attracts.
Between 2014 and 2017, Actual Madrid didn’t register a single win on the venue, and so they suffered the identical streak as soon as extra between 2019 and the top of 2021.
In newer instances, Valencia beat Actual Madrid by a 1-0 margin in 2023, took a attract 2024, and misplaced with a last-gasp Jude Bellingham winner in 2025. Notably, every of the final three conferences on the venue noticed a participant despatched off.
As Actual Madrid put together to go into the identical venue tomorrow night, it’s inconceivable to low cost what the numbers say and the lads in white should keep in mind that the battle can be a troublesome one.
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Valencia might not be having fun with an incredible season in La Liga, however Actual Madrid’s performances have been nothing to cheer both and so they should battle till the ultimate whistle if they’re to undo the curse of Mestalla as soon as extra.