Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Valencia are battling for survival in La Liga, sitting in 19th place, but they have recently shown promise in attack. Real Madrid, on the other hand, are eager to surpass Atlético Madrid and regain the top spot in the league. The Madrid side consistently score many goals but also concede frequently, especially away from home.
Valencia
Valencia have not won in their last five La Liga matches. However, the team have made noticeable progress in attack, particularly at home, where they have scored at least twice in three of their last four games. Their xG at the Mestalla is higher than away (1.34 vs 0.95). Nevertheless, defensive issues persist, as Valencia have conceded in almost every match, managing to keep a clean sheet in just 3 out of 17 games. In head-to-head encounters, they have not been entirely hopeless, scoring in three consecutive meetings.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid display formidable attacking power, averaging 2.28 goals per game. They have scored at least three goals in each of their last three matches. However, the Madrid team often experience defensive lapses, making seven costly errors in their last four games, including conceding three to the weaker Rayo Vallecano (3:3). In terms of expected goals against (xGA), Real Madrid's statistics are noticeably poorer away from home at 1.15, compared to 1.07 at the Bernabéu.
Valencia vs Real Madrid Prediction
Considering Real Madrid's excellent attack and Valencia's defensive frailties, a high-scoring game is expected. Valencia have enough potential to trouble the visitors' net, particularly given Real Madrid’s defensive instability in recent games. Therefore, we are betting on both teams to score.
