Valladolid vs Real Madrid

Returning after the World Cup, Real Madrid make the trip to 13th placed Real Valladolid in an attempt to regain top spot on the La Liga table.

Expect the hosts to counter Real Madrid’s calmness on the ball with hostility, looking to force them to play at a greater pace and in return create bigger gaps in behind Los Blancos’ defence. Marco Asensio is likely to remain on the bench as both Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior have trained well in the sessions leading up to this game. Pacheta’s Real Valladolid went into the World Cup break on the end of some shaky form, but played a number of friendlies – both domestic and international – across the winter break. One should hope for Real Madrid to win today and at Villarreal next week, as they look to clinch back top spot on the Real Madrid lost top spot to FC Barcelona just two weeks prior to the World Cup, when they dropped points against Rayo Vallecano and Girona. They visit Real Valladolid’s Estadio Jose Zorilla as the league’s 2nd and 13th placed teams match up against one another in gameweek 15.