Valencia vs Real Madrid Prediction, Picks, Odds

• Real Madrid have taken 10 points from a possible 12 so far this season
• Valencia, to the surprise of many, have the same tally after four rounds of fixtures
• Despite their strong start Valencia will struggle to avoid defeat by Los Blancos

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Valencia vs Real Madrid Odds

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Valencia vs Real Madrid Prediction & Pick

Back Real Madrid to beat Valencia in a game featuring fewer than 3.5 goals. This could be a relatively cagey affair with both sides looking to avoid errors, but Madrid’s superior quality should ultimately make the difference.

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Carlo Ancelotti the Perfect Manager for Transitional Real Madrid

It can be hard to escape the noise at Real Madrid. This, after all, is probably the biggest soccer club in the world. There is always something happening at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, where the pressure to win is unrelenting. In these parts a draw is a defeat and a defeat is a crisis. Even when things are going reasonably well on the pitch, drama is liable to spring up in the boardroom. With 13 European Cups, 34 La Liga titles and hundreds of millions of fans around the globe, scrutiny is omnipresent at Madrid.

Many managers have been swallowed up by the reality of life with los Blancos. Some have enjoyed success in the short term, yet sticking around for more than a couple of years is not easy. Zinedine Zidane managed it across two spells at the Bernabeu. Despite his superstar status as a player, Zidane’s understated personality brought a degree of calm to proceedings during his time in the dugout. But when he announced his departure at the end of last season, Madrid had a big decision to make about his replacement.

Some called for the appointment of a young, hungry, up-and-coming coach who could put in place a philosophy that would serve the club well for years to come. But that is not really Madrid’s style. Their philosophy is winning. The numerous triumphs under Zidane were achieved without a clear on-field identity; while it can be argued the Frenchman is an underrated tactician, his main achievement at Madrid was bringing together a dressing room of egos and fashioning a functioning collective unit out of individual stars.

That is something Carlo Ancelotti has done throughout his career, be it at AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain or Madrid the first time round. The Italian is therefore the perfect manager for a Blancos team in transition. He has guided Madrid to three wins and a draw in his first four league games at the helm, plus a 1-0 victory over Inter in the Champions League. The evidence so far suggests Ancelotti’s Madrid will take some stopping in the title race.

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Valencia’s Start Suggests They Might Finally Be Exiting Malaise

Valencia have also won three and drawn one of their first four matches this term. That is a surprise to many La Liga followers, including some of those of a Valencia persuasion. Los Che have been Spain’s crisis club in recent years, with off-field problems spilling over onto the pitch. Jeremy Lim remains an extremely unpopular owner but recent performances and results have at least restored a degree of optimism to Mestalla.

Lim’s decision to appoint Jose Bordalas was not universally popular, but the 57-year-old has already won many of the doubters over. Bordalas’ former club, Getafe, had some bruising encounters with Valencia during his five years there. There were significant question marks over whether he could work out at Mestalla – not because he is a bad coach but because of a possible culture clash.

1But Bordalas has already had a positive impact on the team he inherited. Valencia are harder to beat and have conceded only two goals in four games. It is not all blood and thunder with Bordalas, though: Goncalo Guedes, the skillful but inconsistent winger, has made a terrific start to the campaign. Victory over Madrid this weekend would make people really sit up and take notice.

Back Madrid to Come Out on Top in a Hard-Fought Contest

Ancelotti will know that his team will be in for a tough game this weekend. Roared on by a vociferous home crowd at Mestalla, Valencia will look to be intense and aggressive from the first whistle. They have the second-lowest pass completion rate in La Liga so far in 2021/22, which shows they tend to play long, direct passes up to the front. Madrid will have to stand up to the physical challenge on Sunday.

As such, Ancelotti will emphasize the need to avoid risks early on in the game. Madrid will look to gradually gain a foothold in the game, and their manager would no doubt be reasonably content with a goalless first half. It could be a case of weathering an early storm and then hoping Madrid’s superior individual quality makes the difference.

It is a game plan that could work, provided Madrid do not fall behind early on. Karim Benzema has been excellent so far this season, while Vinicius Junior’s end product is much better now than it was two years ago. Valencia will provide a stern test, but Madrid should get through it. Back an away win and under 3.5 goals on Sunday.

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