Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
After the 1:1 draw with Mallorca, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his displeasure with his star players, criticising their defensive lapses. It seems the debut match of Kylian Mbappe in Madrid against Real Valladolid should be without previous mistakes, or the coaching staff may start rotating the squad.
Real Madrid
Against Atalanta (2:0) and Mallorca, Real Madrid created a combined 3.35 xG—a respectable number for the world's best attack. In the second half against Mallorca, the Madrid side was close to win (71-29 in possession and 9-7 in shots after the break). Carlo Ancelotti will likely replace the suspended defender Benjamin Mendy with Lucas Vázquez, who scored a few crucial goals from an unfamiliar position last season—strengthening their attack even further.
Real Valladolid
Newly-promoted Real Valladolid defeated fellow promoted Espanyol in their Primera debut (1:0). Both teams displayed average football, combining for just 0.83 xG, with Valladolid holding possession only 45% of the time. Paulo Pezzolano will be without Anuar Tuhami, André Ferreira, and Robert Kenedy, limiting his options and forcing him to use nominal defender Eray Cömert in midfield.
Real Madrid - Real Valladolid Prediction
In their campaign before the last, Real Madrid twice beat Valladolid (2:0 and 6:0). They approach this encounter on a run of five consecutive clean-sheet victories. Updated Real Madrid will leave no chance for the underdogs at the Santiago Bernabéu.
