Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid

La Liga title hopefuls Real Madrid make a journey north to the Estadio José Zorrilla to take on mid-table strugglers Real Valladolid in their first post-World Cup game.

Valladolid headed into the World Cup break on the back of a 2-0 Copa del Rey victory over lower-league Barbadas-Bentraces and picked up where they left off in November by dismantling Arenas Club 5-1 in a dominant pre-Christmas Copa del Rey runout. However, consistency has been a problem for ‘Los Pucelanos’ in La Liga of late, as they’ve alternated between winning (2) and losing (2) across their last four league outings, including a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in their latest top-flight match. Back at home, where they’ve won three league games in succession since a goalless draw with Real Betis in early October, Valladolid can rely upon a phenomenal defensive shape, having not conceded more than once in any home La Liga fixture since August (W4, D1, L1).

In the meantime, visiting Real Madrid eked out a 2-1 home triumph over relegation-battling Cadiz on the eve of the mid-season break, halting an underwhelming run of back-to-back winless league matches (D1, L1). Despite returning to winning ways and only losing once in their 14 top-flight fixtures this season (W11, D2), ‘Los Merengues’ spent a seven-week hiatus from La Liga action second in the standings, two points adrift of pacesetters Barcelona. Keen to avenge a 3-2 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on their most recent league travel, Carlo Ancelotti’s men can draw confidence from going unbeaten in their last six away league meetings with Valladolid (W5, D1), including three wins in a row in the lead-up to this encounter. Worryingly, though, the reigning La Liga champions have only kept two clean sheets in 14 top-flight contests this season.