Leadership and permanence meet this Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid, with the accumulated fatigue of the cup match against Real Sociedad, will host Valencia at their home ground this Saturday at 4:15 p.m., a Valencia team that wants to put some distance between itself and relegation. The Whites do not want to fail so as not to give Barça a free rein to escape in the lead.
As we said, Real Madrid come into Saturday’s game with the accumulated tiredness of an intense match at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Sociedad that was decided in extra time. Real started by equalizing the tie, and an imperial Endrick responded with the equalizer.
When everything seemed under control for Madrid in the second half, they suddenly found themselves 3-1 down in the tie, 2-3 on aggregate. Madrid equalized in 5 minutes of madness; but Real took the lead once again. Rüdiger sealed the win in extra time and Madrid are in the final.
In the league, the Whites have just beaten Leganés thanks to two goals from Kylian Mbappé, with a soft Panenka-style penalty and a great strike from a set piece, which, together with a goal from Jude Bellingham, led to a vital comeback (2-3) to stay in the fight for the title with Barça, who are three points above them.
Valencia are having a very different kind of struggle. They have been flirting with relegation all season and are now going through a good spell that they want to prolong. Carlos Corberán’s side have picked up points in the last four games and are coming off the back of a 1-0 home win against Mallorca, a team fighting to get into Europe. The “Che” team is in 15th place in the league table with 41 points, four points above the relegation places from which it wants to stay away.
Ancelotti forced to rotate
Carlo Ancelotti’s team goes into the game with the confirmed absences of Mendy, Ceballos, Militão and Carvajal. However, the number of minutes played in recent matches means that the Italian coach will have to rotate the squad. One of the changes will be in goal. Thibaut Courtois has not yet recovered from his right knee problems and Andriy Lunin injured his right soleus during the match against Real Sociedad. For this reason, Ancelotti may choose to field Fran González, the goalkeeper from Castilla.
Real Madrid’s possible XI
Goalkeeper: Fran González
Defenders: Lucas Vázquez, Asencio, Rüdiger, Fran García
Midfielders: Tchouaméni, Bellingham, Modric
Forwards: Rodrygo, Endrick, Mbappé
Corberán’s absences
Corberán will be without Luis Rioja, Foulquier and captain José Luis Gayá, who will all be suspended after collecting too many yellow cards. In addition, Thierry Correia is still recovering from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered in October and Iván Jaime is a doubt for the game.
Valencia’s possible XI
Goalkeeper: Mamardashvili
Defenders: Fran Pérez, Tárrega, Diakhaby, Mosquera, Yarek
Midfielders: Barrenechea, Pepelu, Javi Guerra
Forwards: Sadiq, Diego López