Real Madrid vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-11-10 20:00.
Real Madrid proved they can score goals without Jude Bellingham when beating Braga 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in midweek, a welcome sight after last weekend’s frustrating 0-0 La Liga (LL) draw with Rayo Vallecano. After following up their 2-1 El Clásico win over Barcelona with two league draws, they come into this clash playing catch up to surprise leaders Girona.
Wednesday’s win over Braga, which sealed their place in the UCL knockouts, was Los Blancos’ 14th competitive game undefeated at the Bernabéu (W11, D3), the last five of which came with a clean sheet (W4, D1). Such defensive solidity despite the ongoing absence of Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão stands them in good stead as they look to repeat last season’s 2-0 win here over Valencia, albeit with another defender in Antonio Rüdiger missing here through suspension.
Visiting manager Rubén Baraja will have his side believing they can get something out of this contest having just led them to a five-match unbeaten streak for the first time since his appointment in February (W3, D2). Los Ches haven’t tasted defeat in four LL matches (W2, D2) en route to their best 12-game start to a LL season since 2017/18 and they will have fond memories of a 1-0 H2H win in May.
However, that victory came at home, and they’ve struggled in Madrid, where they last won a LL H2H in March 2008 (D5, L10). That’s their worst ongoing away run in the league against any side and their chances of ending it appeared minimal even before key midfielder Selim Amallah went down injured against Granada last weekend (W 1-0), with Valencia now having to go without him for around a month.
Players to watch: Rodrygo completed Real Madrid’s scoring against Braga but his two other club goals this season were match-openers between the 15th and 30th minute. Once briefly on Madrid’s books, Valencia’s Hugo Duro is also a possible first scorer as three of his five goals this term arrived before the 35th minute.
Hot streak: Real Madrid have kept a first-half clean sheet in each of the last five home H2Hs (W5).