Spanish La Liga
2018-01-27 - Valencia vs Real Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Spanish Primera Division
Saturday 27th January 2018 - Kick Off 3:15pm
Valencia
Saturday could be a very important day for Valencia as they bid to really cement their place in the top four by knocking off the team immediately below them in the League table. With a win in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final over Alaves during the week, Valencia are set for one of their more successful seasons in recent years.
They are 3rd in the La Liga table going into the weekend although Valencia trail leaders Barcelona by 13 points. The side are 5 points clear of visitors Real Madrid and 6 points clear of 5th placed Villarreal with a Champions League place now the biggest ambition for the club to realise this season. A strong 7-2-1 record at the Mestalla has propelled Valencia up the League standings.
Valencia had been unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions, but they were beaten 2-1 at Las Palmas in the League last weekend and then 2-1 at Alaves in the Copa Del Rey, although winning the latter tie on a penalty shoot out. The home form has been very good for Valencia all season and they have won 5 of their last 6 here including the last 3 in a row.
Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane is under immense pressure as manager of Real Madrid in a season which is lurching from bad to worse in each passing week. The shocking 1-2 home loss to Leganes in the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final means Real Madrid's last real chance of silverware will come in the Champions League as the two time defending Champions.
It is going to be a long shot for Real Madrid to win the Champions League again in the form they are in and with a huge tie against Paris Saint-Germain coming up. The side are down in 4th place in the League table and a shocking 19 points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid are only holding onto a Champions League place by a point over Villarreal.
Real Madrid won back to back games, but they have once again received negative headlines after going out of the Spanish Cup during the week. The away form has been better for Real Madrid who are unbeaten in 6 on their travels in all competitions and they have won 3 of their last 5 away from home.
Head to Head
Real Madrid and Valencia drew 2-2 when they met in the League earlier this season.
Valencia are unbeaten in 3 home games against Real Madrid and they have won 2 of those games including a 2-1 win last season.
Prediction
Jose Mourinho described Real Madrid as 'being on fire' in his last press conference and there are definite signs that this squad have gone as far as they can together. With some vast changes to come in the summer, Zinedine Zidane may not be given a chance to oversee the transition with his place as manager coming under immense pressure.
An exit in the Champions League Second Round would likely end Zidane's tenure as manager, but he also can't afford Real Madrid to slip lower down the League table.
At least the away form has been stronger in recent weeks as they get set to take on a Valencia team who have been overachieving all season. Valencia have been very strong at home, where they have already held Barcelona to a draw this season, and they are unbeaten in 3 home games against Real Madrid.
It just doesn't make sense for Real Madrid to be such a big favourite here with the way they have been performing. Valencia have been strong at home and getting a goal start on the Asian Handicap should mean a push at worst, so I will take the home team with the start here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Valencia 2-1 Real Madrid
