Valencia vs Real Madrid
Thanks to an Argentine coach by the name of Diego Simeone, the established duo in La Liga have become a trio.
While Real Madrid and Barcelona have been dominating Spanish football for many a decade, Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are now also in the mix and are the reigning champions.
Aside from that wonderful achievement along with the 2014 title and reaching two Champions League finals, you have to cast your mind back a little bit to remember which was the last club other than that trio to win the league title.
Step forward Valencia.
The club has experienced ups and downs since its memorable 2004 season which saw them win a La Liga and UEFA Cup double, but they still love nothing more than unsettling and upsetting the big boys.
The question is whether can they do so again this weekend? It’s time for Los Che to lock horns with Los Blancos.
Talking Points
Madrid have had a really good week with Karim Benzema and their young summer starlet catching the eye.
Last weekend, they secured their place at the summit when the prolific Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real twice came from behind to beat Celta Vigo in their first match at the Bernabeu in 560 days.
There was more too as Angola-born former refugee Eduardo Camavinga came off the bench to score in the 5-2 victory.
The 18 year-old – who was a £27-M summer signing from Rennes – followed that up three days later when he set up a late winner at Italian champions Inter Milan in Champions League in midweek.
Four games into the season, this is actually a meeting of the top two in the standings – although it’s unlikely they will still be by the time this encounter kicks off given it’s the penultimate scheduled Spanish top-flight match of the weekend.
This is Valencia’s first real test of the campaign and will be a genuine opportunity to see how they could fare over the course of 2021/22.
They spent much of last season fettered in mindless boredom but are a different animal now fans have returned to the merciless Mestalla.
Likewise, Real have already shown they have enough about them to sustain another title challenge.
Despite their goal-fest against Celta Vigo, manager Carlo Ancelotti will be aware of the defencive instability in the post-Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane era.
Real have conceded six goals in four league games so far with the shortcomings in their rearguard highlighted in the absence of that tried-and-trusted partnership.
What good timing then for David Alaba to return and shore up the backline as they aim to keep their place at the top of the table.
History
This is a fixture historically littered with goals and we expect more La Liga 2021 highlights.
Valencia have proven to be a tricky opponent for Real in the past. And last season, they thrashed them 4-1 at their own Mestalla Stadium inspired by a Carlos Soler hat-trick.
More recently, however, Real triumphed against them 2-0 in the corresponding fixture – courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos.
They also beat them 3-0 two seasons ago – with a little help from VAR – after the restart as they marched towards the La Liga title.
As two of the oldest clubs in the Spanish top-flight, they have played each other in the league on 172 occasions. Real have won 89, Valencia have won 46, and the remaining 37 have ended in draws.
More recently, in the last 10 meetings between the two clubs, there have been six Real successes, two draws, and two Valencia triumphs.
It was in 2008 when Valencia last won in the Bernabeu in a 3-2 league success – a match in which Real legend Raul netted twice but so did the cultured David Villa for Valencia before Javier Arizmendi scored a late winner.
However, Valencia have won four of their last eight meetings at home to mighty Madrid.
Betting Tip
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Valencia vs Real Madrid | Over 2.75 goals @ 2.00 |
| September 20, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
As you would expect, the SBOTOP La Liga 2021 betting odds are strongly in favour of the visitors. They can be backed 1X2 @ 1.99 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.26.
Valencia are adrift with 1X2 odds of @ 3.65 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.23, while the draw is on offer @ 3.40.
In the unlikely event Valencia can secure back-to-back 4-1 home wins, the correct score odds are available at a staggering @ 145.00.
For another 2-0 Real success, the payday will be worth @ 9.75.
If you expect goals, then how about total goal 0-1 @ 3.90, 2-3 @ 1.97 and 4-6 @ 3.15.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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