Valencia vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
So we're back to where it all started.
Three hundred and sixty-four days after Real Madrid last travelled to the Mestalla, they're back again, but how they're back couldn't be more different.
Last time, Madrid arrived on a 22-game winning streak and were the holders of four new titles. Two of those meant they were the European and world champions, the latter confirmed by the presence of shiny gold badges on their chests as they walked out to a guard of honour from Valencia.
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That badge, of course, is supposed to be craved, but in this case it was resented. While donning it, Madrid watched everything unravel, and here "everything" means everything, the 2-1 loss to Valencia 364 days ago starting it all. "The curse of the badge," said Marca recently.
Indeed, 2015 was a wretched year for Madrid; everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong, but in winning the Club World Cup in December, Barcelona might have given Madrid a small positive. They took that badge away.
On Sunday, Madrid will contest their first game without it, and 2016 brings with it the hope of a fresh start. In a way, kicking it off against Valencia at Mestalla is fitting, a chance to go back to the beginning of the pain and reflect on it. Learn from it. Then move on.
As ever, the challenge will be immense at the Mestalla, but the side Madrid are returning to face are also very different.
Last time, Valencia were a ferocious and up-tempo outfit riding their own wave, but not anymore. Before Sunday's action, Los Che sit in the bottom half of the table, just five wins having come from their 17 league games, the last of which arrived in November. Consequently, Valencia are engulfed in turmoil just like Madrid are, the only difference being their turmoil doesn't reach nearly as many eyes.
In December, Gary Neville replaced Nuno, who'd been the focus of an angry Mestalla for months despite the fact the club's situation this season wasn't entirely his own doing. Instead, this is a club where on-field struggles have exposed off-field concerns, the fans now wondering where their club is going and what it's becoming.
Neville, of course, has been recruited to change that, but change has been slow-going. Since the Englishman's arrival, Valencia's fortunes in the league have remained where they were under Nuno, and time is running out. Five points separate them from a European place; 11 separate them from a Champions League place.
Could 2016 bring something better? "I don't know about 'new year, new life,'" said Neville ahead of the game. "I believe in routine, habits, preparation. I stopped believing in superstition a few weeks ago. The idea that the year changes from a five to a six and all of a sudden we are now better, I don't believe in that."
Yet even if he doesn't believe in it, there might be a small part of him hoping for it. And Rafa Benitez might be just the same.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, January 3
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. local
Venue: The Mestalla, Valencia
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal | W: 3-1 vs. Real Sociedad |
| D: 2-2 vs. Getafe | W: 10-2 vs. Real Sociedad |
| W: 2-0 vs. Barakaldo | L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal |
| D: 1-1 vs. Eibar | W: 8-0 vs. Malmo |
| L: 0-2 vs. Lyon | W: 4-1 vs. Getafe |
| D: 1-1 vs. Valencia | W: 3-1 vs. Cadiz |
Team News
For Valencia, leading centre-back Shkodran Mustafi has been left out of the squad for Sunday's meeting with Real Madrid, per the club's official website. Mustafi missed the New Year's Eve clash with Villarreal and has been struggling with injury, as has left-back Jose Gaya, who's also been left out of the squad.
As a result, Lucas Orban could deputise for Gaya, while Ruben Vezo could partner Aymen Abdennour in the centre of the defence, assuming Neville doesn't opt for the back five he tested against Villarreal.
In midfield, it's possible we could see Neville go bold with a trio of Dani Parejo, Andre Gomes and Danilo, who's been prominent since the arrival of the new manager, while the wide attacking berths either side of Paco Alcacer will be up for grabs between Joao Cancelo, Santi Mina, Pablo Piatti and Rodrigo De Paul. Sofiane Feghouli and Zakaria Bakkali are unavailable.
For Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos has returned from injury and will likely slot in alongside Pepe in the middle of the back four. However, Dani Carvajal is still missing, meaning Danilo will continue on the right.
In midfield, the defensive-minded Casemiro looks a good chance to start in what promises to be a testing away fixture, which, if it were to happen, would force one of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric or James Rodriguez to the bench. After being withdrawn early against Real Sociedad on Wednesday and following his run-in with the police for speeding, James could be that man.
In attack, meanwhile, the customary trident of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale will start again.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
For obvious reasons:
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Valencia: 5-1
Draw: 29-10
Real Madrid: 4-7
