Carlo Ancelotti: ‘We have to get back to playing like we were before Christmas’
Carlo Ancelotti appeared via videoconference to speak to the press ahead of the team’s LaLiga matchday 20 meeting with Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid vs Valencia: Line-ups
Real Madrid
Valencia
Real Back to Winning Ways
#1
Real Madrid have enjoyed an excellent 2021-22 La Liga campaign to date, boasting a record of 14 wins, four draws and two defeats to collect 46 points, which has left them at the top of the division. Los Blancos could have been forgiven for thinking that their recent long unbeaten run would have left them fairly clear at the summit, but they are only five points ahead of second-placed Sevilla, who have a game in hand, and it will be fascinating to see whether Julen Lopetegui’s side can stay in touch with the leaders.
#2
Real Madrid lost in the league for the first time since the start of October last weekend when they went down 1-0 at Getafe, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side managed to return to winning ways in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, recording a 3-1 victory at Alcoyano to progress to the round of 16. The capital giants will take on Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 12, while the Champions League will also be back next month, with Paris Saint-Germain their opponents in the round of 16.
#3
Valencia, meanwhile, will enter Saturday’s contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Cartagena in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, but they lost 2-1 at home to Espanyol in the league on December 31. Los Che have won seven, drawn seven and lost five of their 19 league matches this season to collect 28 points, which has left them in ninth position in the table, just four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
#4
Jose Bordalas’s side are entering a very tough run of matches in the league, facing Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico and Real Sociedad in their next four, and it will be fascinating to see where they are in the table towards the start of February. Valencia finished 13th in La Liga last season, which proved to be their worst campaign since claiming 14th in 1987-88, but they look capable of challenging for a potential European finish this term.
#5
The six-time Spanish champions have not actually won at Bernabeu in the league since March 2008, which is an indication of the size of their task this weekend, but they did record a 4-1 victory over Los Blancos when the two teams met at Mestalla during the 2020-21 campaign.
DPP Verdict
Valencia are more than capable of picking up a positive result at Bernabeu, and we are expecting this to be a very close match in the Spanish capital this weekend. Real Madrid will be desperate to return to winning ways following their loss at Getafe, though, and we are backing a 1-0 home success in this match.
