Valencia v Real Madrid – Saturday 19th November – Mestalla (23:00)
The international break is always a welcoming affair but football fans will be happy that attention turns back to the exciting domestic football. This weekend sees a cracking encounter between two giants of Spanish football. This match-up never fails to deliver and fans will be licking their lips in anticipation.
Valencia is in a rich vein of form and has maintained their position amongst the elite of the Spanish La Liga. They currently lie in 3rd place on the table and are good value for their spot. Valencia have been playing some sublime football in recent times and have proved to be a real difficult team to break down. Manager Unai Emery has admitted that this season his team looks more organized defensively and are attacking well as a unit. Valencia have transformed their home into a fortress as they have yet been defeated, drawing 1 and winning 5 out of their 6 home encounters. Valencia’s two front men are in unforgiving form, punishing most that have stood before them. Jonas and Roberto Soldado have combined to lethal effect thus far and have not been goal shy in recent times. Jonas scored a brace for his country on Monday night as Brazil downed Egypt 2-0. The diminutive figure of Ever Banega continues to pull the strings in the midfield and he has notched up 7 assists thus far. Valencia are looking really impressive and if they can maintain this form there is no telling the heights they can reach this season.
Real Madrid is in scintillating form, humiliating most that have cross their path. They are coming off a 7-1 drubbing of Osasuna and this can only boost morale amongst the players. Jose Mourinho has seem to have got things right thus far, in his team selection as he continues to implement a rotation policy to keep all his high profile players happy. Cristiano Ronaldo is on fire at the moment as he has scored 13 goals in 11 matches keeping him in touching distance of top goal scorer Lionel Messi who has 14 goals to his name. Ronaldo however has scored the most hatricks in European football thus far as he grabbed his 12th hat-trick for Real Madrid two weeks ago. This Real Madrid team is in a dominant mode as they look unbeatable in certain encounters. The likes Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain have all come off positive international breaks as they all did well for their respective countries. Jose Mourinho doesn’t often get things wrong and I think last season he got a few things wrong, but this campaign he has proved once again why he is “The Special One” and there is no doubt he can lead Real Madrid to their 32nd Spanish title.
Both teams are in great form and give very little away defensively. This should be a tight encounter, full of attacking football. Real Madrid should just have too much class for their opponents.
