Valencia vs. Real Madrid: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Having ended 2014 by being crowned world champions of club football, Real Madrid will be hoping to preserve their sparkling form when they return to domestic action. But Carlo Ancelotti’s team will face a particularly stern test of their mettle when they take on Valencia at the Mestalla.
Los Che are enjoying a prosperous La Liga campaign and are currently sitting in fourth place in the table behind the traditional top three teams. While Real have been in stunning shape of late, a win here would move Valencia back to within five points of the European champions.
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This clash has always been a treat in years gone by, as both sides love to play an open and attacking game; if the early stages of the season are anything to go by, expect much the same here.
Here’s all the information you need on where to catch the game and a closer look at how two of Spain’s biggest sides are shaping up as they get 2015 underway.
Date: Sunday, Jan. 4
Time: 4 p.m. (GMT), 11 a.m. (ET)
Live Stream: Sky Go App (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US)
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK), beIN Sports (US)
Los Blancos Looking For 23rd Straight Win
Ever since losing the Madrid derby at the start of the season, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been in magnificent form. The club have won their last 22 games in all competitions and, even though they jetted off to Morocco for Club World Cup duty, their position atop the La Liga table remains well intact.
The club are clearly looking forward to more success in the coming year, too, per their official Twitter account:
This team has gelled superbly in recent weeks. The balance of the side is magnificent; the energy levels showcased have been unrelentingly high and the attacking play has been supremely incisive. They are worthy world and European champions and, as such, Valencia will observe the appropriate traditions ahead of this one, per RMadridHome:
"AS | Valencia will give Real Madrid the guard of honor for recently becoming FIFA Club World Cup Champions. pic.twitter.com/1vZkS4d993
— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) January 1, 2015"
Once the match gets underway, Los Blancos will receive no such courtesies, however. Barcelona are the only team to have taken all three points from the Mestalla this season and Valencia have shown that on their day, they have the class to be a match for any team in the division.
They’ve already bolstered their ranks for 2015, too, and new signing Enzo Perez is a player worth getting excited about. The tricky midfielder could make his first appearance for Los Che in this one following his transfer from Benfica for just shy of £20 million, per Peter McVitie of Goal.com; here’s a look at the kind of things the Mestalla crowd can look forward to:
Madrid will be wary of Perez, who is a midfielder capable of giving this intricate Valencia side even more of an attacking edge. But Ancelotti has a vast array of attacking talent of his own to choose from and if they continue at the same level with which they finished 2014, Real will be too good for the hosts.
It’ll be intriguing to see how Nuno Santo and his team approach this one. They’re a side that are dynamic and intense in their off-the-ball work, but against a team like Madrid boasting clinical forwards and astute midfield players, they could be carved open should they be a little too reckless in their pressing.
With that in mind, expect the home side to sit deep and have some success on the counter-attack. But with Madrid in sparkling form and players like Cristiano Ronaldo set to be refreshed after a festive break, expect the league leaders to continue their march towards glory.
Prediction: Valencia 1-3 Real Madrid
