The stakes are sky-high as Real Madrid set their sights on a fourth straight La Liga victory when they host a resurgent Valencia at the Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are locked in a fierce title race, trailing bitter rivals Barcelona by just three points. With the pressure mounting, every match is a must-win as Los Blancos look to reclaim their spot at the summit. Meanwhile, Valencia find themselves in a battle of their own—hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. But don’t count them out just yet. Unbeaten in their last four outings, Los Che are desperate to pull further away from danger and would love nothing more than to derail Madrid’s title charge.
With two sides fighting for survival on opposite ends of the table, expect fireworks at the Bernabéu. Will Madrid flex their championship pedigree, or can Valencia pull off a stunning upset?
The battle for La Liga supremacy rages on as Real Madrid gear up to host Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. With just three points separating them from arch-rivals Barcelona, Los Blancos cannot afford any slip-ups as they push for the top spot.
Valencia, meanwhile, are fighting their own war—just four points above the relegation zone and desperate to distance themselves from the danger zone. Though they sit 15th in the table, Los Che won’t make it easy for Madrid, especially with both teams showing a knack for finding the back of the net.
Madrid’s grueling schedule continues, having gone the distance against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semis midweek, but with a Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal on the horizon, Ancelotti’s men can’t afford to let their focus waver. Squad depth will be their biggest weapon.
Thibaut Courtois’ lingering muscular issue means Andriy Lunin—despite nursing a minor calf problem—will again stand guard between the posts. Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy should be fit in time for Arsenal but will miss this showdown, while long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão remain out.
Ancelotti is set to make key changes, with Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger returning to inject fresh energy into the lineup, while Fran García is expected to slot in at left-back.
Madrid have everything to play for, but will they rise to the occasion, or can Valencia stun the Bernabéu and throw a wrench into their title chase?
REAL MADRID predicted lineup vs VALENCIA: Lunin (GK); Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Valencia’s fight for survival has taken a dramatic turn since the arrival of Carlos Corberán, who has steadied the ship and dragged Los Che away from the drop zone. But the job is far from done—any slip now could send them spiraling back into danger. With only a handful of games left, the pressure is mounting.
Their last encounter with Real Madrid was a golden opportunity to shake things up in the title race, but they fell short. Now, they arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu with revenge on their minds, determined to throw a wrench into Los Blancos’ championship charge.
Sitting in 15th place with 31 points, Valencia’s last outing saw them grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mallorca, a win that boosted their survival hopes. But the Spanish capital presents a whole different challenge.
Corberán will be forced to reshuffle his squad, with key players missing. Cristian Rivero and Thierry Correia remain sidelined due to injury, while a trio of suspensions—Dimitri Foulquier, captain José Gayà, and Luis Rioja—leaves Valencia with major gaps to fill.
Young talent Yarek Gasiorowski, reportedly on Real Madrid’s radar, is set to step in at left-back, while Jesús Vázquez and Fran Pérez could also be drafted into the lineup.
With everything to play for, will Valencia rise to the challenge and derail Madrid’s title chase, or will they crack under the weight of expectation? The battle at the Bernabéu is about to ignite.
VALENCIA predicted lineup vs REAL MADRID: Mamardashvili (GK); Vazquez, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski; Guerra, Barrenechea; Perez, Almeida, D Lopez; Sadiq.
Real Madrid are walking a tightrope, juggling a grueling schedule with a Champions League showdown against Arsenal looming. But there's no room for slip-ups in La Liga, where the title race with Barcelona remains razor-thin. Meanwhile, Valencia are clinging to safety, just above the relegation zone, but their recent resurgence gives them hope. Winning at the Bernabéu is a monumental task, yet with Madrid’s focus divided, Los Che will fancy their chances of causing problems and finding the back of the net.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins & both teams to score.
