Real Madrid vs. Valencia: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
On your marks. Get set. Go!
In the sort of round we're not treated to often enough in Spain, that will essentially be the call at 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, when the whole of La Liga will take to the blocks: 20 teams, 10 games, one kick-off time.
And one mad dash to the line.
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This will feel like a proper jornada, and it should be captivating. Unlike the league's customary weekend schedule with its disjointed feel, this will add that sense of freneticism to proceedings. Around the country goals will fly in, and as they do, equations will change and so will the complexion of the table. Each minute, each act and each game: all connected.
In an already-juicy title race, it will add another dimension.
On Sunday, league-leaders Barcelona host Espanyol in a spicy Catalan derby. Second-placed Atletico Madrid travel to Levante, while third-placed Real Madrid welcome Valencia to the Santiago Bernabeu. The respective points tallies: 85, 85 and 84.
For Madrid, their meeting with Pako Ayestaran's side probably stands as the most testing of the three. Two-and-a-half years have now passed since Madrid last defeated Valencia in late 2013, and though Los Che are approaching the end of an extremely tumultuous campaign, enough talent resides in their squad to cause damage when it clicks.
For Valencia, though, that's the issue: when.
All season, the men from Mestalla have existed in some sort of funk, riddled with tension and only pulled out of it temporarily by meetings with the big boys. Indeed, despite their indifference, genuine occasions have still drawn something out of Valencia: Against Barcelona, they've taken four points from six in the league; in January, they held Madrid to a 2-2 draw.
More of the same here, then?
"Everyone likes to show what they can do on such a stage," said Ayestaran on Saturday, per the club's website, "it [the Bernabeu] is a place where you either go charged up or you will have problems."
He's right. Madrid's recent record at home is fearsome—15 wins in their last 16 at the Bernabeu in all competitions—and there's now a very real sense of Zinedine Zidane's men building momentum and strength, the entire dynamic of their season having shifted with this storming late run.
"The plan is to go out on to the pitch at full throttle, believe in our strength at home and do all we can to get the three points," said Zidane at his pre-match press conference. "We've won 10 La Liga games in a row and we have to keep this run going. We're still very much in the race."
Madrid certainly are, but they still require favours from their rivals, while Sunday's crunch affair will be missing key men. After suffering a minor knee injury against Manchester City on Wednesday, Gareth Bale is out. So are Dani Carvajal and Keylor Navas. Karim Benzema is 50-50 too.
"Injury problems are inevitable in the final stages of the season," said Zidane. "We've got a big enough squad to deal with it."
Such headaches will add to the tension at the Bernabeu amid this furious two-hour dash around La Liga. From minute to minute, everything can change. At every site, every kick means something, every action capable of impacting the dynamic of games unfolding elsewhere.
So here we are: 20 teams, 10 games, three title rivals and one kick-off time.
On your marks. Get set. Go!
Match Details
Date: Sunday, May 8
Time: 4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET/5 p.m. local
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 1-0 vs. Manchester City | L: 0-2 vs. Villarreal |
| W: 1-0 vs. Real Sociedad | D: 2-2 vs. Getafe |
| D: 0-0 vs. Manchester City | W: 4-0 vs. Eibar |
| W: 3-2 vs. Rayo Vallecano | W: 2-1 vs. Barcelona |
| W: 3-0 vs. Villarreal | W: 2-1 vs. Sevilla |
| W: 5-1 vs. Getafe | L: 1-2 vs. Las Palmas |
Team News
For Real Madrid, as mentioned above, several changes will be made to the side that faced Manchester City on Wednesday, with Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale all left out of the club's 20-man squad for this clash due to minor injuries.
As such, Kiko Casilla will take the gloves at the Bernabeu on Sunday, while Danilo should come in to replace Carvajal and join Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo in the back four.
In midfield, the defensive-minded Casemiro looks set to return after missing the game against City, allowing Toni Kroos to go back to his freer role on the left side of the midfield. Luka Modric should round out the trio.
Up front, meanwhile, Karim Benzema could return from injury as well, while the absence of Bale should see Lucas Vazquez line up on the right wing.
For Valencia, Jose Luis Gaya remains unavailable through injury, meaning Atletico Madrid loanee Guilherme Siqueira should continue at left-back, while Aymen Abdennour is expected to come back into the centre of the defence alongside Shkodran Mustafi.
In midfield, Ayestaran is likely to opt for experience just as he did for Valencia's recent trip to Barcelona, meaning a trio of Dani Parejo, Enzo Perez and Javi Fuego looks likely.
And in attack, the pacey and opportunistic Paco Alcacer will fill the No. 9 berth and should be flanked by Rodrigo and Santi Mina.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 1-5
Draw: 13-2
Valencia: 11-1
