Facing Valladolid, the bottom-placed team in La Liga, league leaders Real Madrid aim to reaffirm their dominance. Carlo Ancelotti has just unveiled his official lineup for the match.
Real Madrid arrives in Valladolid with confidence for the 21st round of La Liga. With only 15 points from 20 matches, Valladolid sits at the bottom of the table, fighting for survival. On paper, this fixture seems within reach for the Merengues. However, Paulo Pezzolano’s men had surprised Madrid in the first leg. Despite a 3-0 victory for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Valladolid had made the Madridistas sweat until the second half. A stunning goal from Fede Valverde broke the deadlock before Brahim Díaz and Endrick Felipe sealed the win late in the game.
Real Madrid must cope with several absences for this match. Vinicius Jr is serving the final game of his suspension following his red card against Valencia—a decision Carlo Ancelotti didn’t hesitate to criticize in his press conference. “Some have forgotten that, thanks to Vinicius, we won Champions Leagues in Paris and London. He’s an indispensable player,” he said.
Additionally, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga are unavailable due to injuries. To address these absences, Raúl Asencio has been named as the starting right-back, while Aurélien Tchouaméni takes on an unusual role as a center-back alongside Antonio Rüdiger. Fran García completes the defensive line in front of the ever-reliable Thibaut Courtois in goal. In midfield, Dani Ceballos continues his run after some convincing performances. He will be supported by Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham, pillars of Madrid’s play. In attack, Vinicius’ absence benefits Brahim Díaz, who starts alongside Rodrygo Goes and Kylian Mbappé.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 25, 2025
🆚 @realvalladolid @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/VEiyS8hZkf
Valladolid: A Team Fighting for Survival
For Valladolid, every point counts in their battle to avoid relegation. With just 15 points from 20 matches, Paulo Pezzolano’s men must react urgently. This match against Real Madrid represents an opportunity to turn things around, although it’s a daunting task against a leader in top form.
Valladolid can draw inspiration from their performance in the first leg. Their ability to hold their own against Madrid in the first half shows they are not resigned to their fate despite their position in the table. The question is whether they can replicate that feat this Saturday. Real Madrid are heavy favorites against Valladolid, but memories of the first leg suggest caution is warranted.
Between a team fighting for survival and a leader determined to solidify their top spot, the match could hold surprises. With Kylian Mbappé in great form and a defense bolstered by Tchouaméni, Madrid has all the cards to secure a victory. However, Valladolid, with their backs against the wall, might throw everything into the fight.
Real Madrid’s Official Lineup:
Courtois; Asencio, Tchouaméni, Rüdiger, Fran García; Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Brahim, Rodrygo, Mbappé.
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