Valencia, who a few months ago finished in ninth place in La Liga and who made one think of a possible return to Europe after several difficult years, is no longer the same: after a few months, the team's situation is alarming and coincides with the last place in the standings shared with Valladolid. It therefore seemed inevitable to resort to a change on the bench for the club who therefore bid farewell to Baraja and welcome (paying the clause to West Bromwich) Carlos Corberan, "disciple" of the "Loco" Marcelo Bielsa. For him it will be the most classic of "baptisms of fire" because none other than Real Madrid will arrive at the Mestalla to make up for the day, sadly postponed due to the flood at the end of October. It will be a near-spin because the Blancos are just one point behind league leaders Atletico Madrid and, moreover, in great confidence after recently winning the Intercontinental title, which is added to another series of profitable matches and which make Friday's match truly difficult for the home team, who, however, will have a thousand motivations and, obviously, nothing to lose in front of Real Madrid who should show up at the top, with the gallatic (or galactic) trio of Bellingham, Mbappé, Vinicius.

Valencia's main shape and key statistics

The last 2-2 against Alaves, earned only after the ninetieth minute and in a match where the opponents did more, was fatal for Baraja who leaves a team that, in La Liga, has won less than all the others so far: only 2 times!

Valencia thus finds itself last in the standings together with Valladolid and, despite the two goals conceded recently by Alaves, with the paradox of having a defense that is not among the worst in La Liga but is in the middle: eleventh rearguard for goals conceded.

Bad on the other hand the attack that scores less than 1 goal per game (0.94) and that has as its best scorer Hugo Duro who however from September until now has scored in only one match, the one won 4-2 against Betis.

Real Madrid's main shape and key statistics

The 4-2 victory against Sevilla allowed Real Madrid to overcome Barcelona and to try, on Thursday night, to overtake Atletico Madrid for a Liga that, so far, sees the Blancos going at a good pace (recently improved) that speaks of 12 wins, 4 draws and only 2 defeats.

Away from the Bernabeu for now, the Liga Real Madrid has lost only 1 time, in Bilbao, but has drawn on 4 occasions and the difference in average points compared to the home trend is quite noticeable (1.7 vs 2.6).

Even considering last season, however, the statistic that shows 13 useful results in the last 14 away games for Real Madrid is quite reassuring, just as the Blancos fans can be satisfied with the performance of Kylian Mbappé: with the goal against Sevilla, the Frenchman scored for the fourth consecutive time, scoring his fourteenth goal of the season with the camiseta blanca.

Match prediction and tactical overview

Could the change of coach arouse a Valencia at almost all-time lows? This is the question that is asked before the match that sees Real Madrid, charged, winning and with the absences "only" concentrated in the back line (Militao, Carvajal and Alaba). On the other hand, the unavailability of the hosts is greater and among the players in doubt, also the Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili. Therefore, in addition to the 28 points difference in the standings, the factors unfavorable to Valencia seem too many to be able to try to stop the Blancos who, if they were the same as at the beginning of the season, could be more easily contained but who now, appear to be in really good shape, perhaps too much to be stopped. The BetMines prediction, therefore, supports the victory of Real Madrid, evaluated, in the 1,X,2 trio, just under 50% chance:

• The prediction of the BetMines algorithm for the match Valencia – Real Madrid predicts the 2 sign at 48%
• The prediction of the BetMines algorithm for the match Valencia – Real Madrid predicts the X sign at 26%
• The prediction of the BetMines algorithm for the match Valencia – Real Madrid predicts the 1 sign at 26%

Valencia – Real Madrid predicted lineups

Valencia (4-2-3-1): Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Mosquera, Yarek, Luis Rioja; Barrenechea, Guerra; Almeida, Diego Lopez, Fran Perez; Duro. Coach: Corberan

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Lucas Vasquez, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Valverde, Ceballos; Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius; Mbappé. Coach :Ancelotti