Real Madrid has won 10 of their last 12 games in all competitions, and they will strive to make those 11 of 13 when they are confronted on Saturday evening with real Valladolid in the Jose Zorrilla. The side of Carlo Ancelotti comes during the weekend as La Liga leaders, while the hosts are on the other side of the table, sitting in the 20th.
With just three days since their impressive victory over RB Salzburg in the Champions League, Ancelotti is expected to make some rotations from the side that started there. According to Marca there will be three changes – Fran Garcia, Aurelien Tchouameni and Brahim Diaz start instead of Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior, who serves the second game of his suspension.
It means that Dani Ceballos, who spoke Ancelotti during his press conference before the game, will make a third consecutive start, because Federico Valverde has to remain right back despite the return of Lucas Vazquez, who was suspended in midweek.
Valladolid is without star attacker Raul Moro while he broke his collarbone during last week's defeat in Espanyol. Amath Ndiaye has to take its place in the line-up, while a return for Selim Amallah is also expected. In defense, Juma Bah will not play a part for his expected move to Manchester City, with David Torres to start instead. The 20-year-old midfielder Mario Martin, who came to La Pucela last summer on a season loan from Real Madrid, will compete against his parent club.
Given the respective positions of the two teams in the table, it is understandable that Real Madrid are overwhelming favorites to get three more points out of this game, which would ensure that they stay top of La Liga, regardless of the result of the game of Atletico Madrid against Villarreal earlier during the day. Valladolid, however, will not make it easy, as Real Betis discovered two weeks ago.
Comments