The urgency of Valencia measures the mourning of Real Madrid
MADRID, 20 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid will try to forget their painful and tough defeat in the Champions League semifinals this Sunday with a victory on their visit to Mestalla (6:30 p.m.) where a Valencia with many emergencies awaits them and who will seek to take advantage of any signs of neglect of their rival.
The ‘che’ team is in full battle to avoid relegation and that need can be a double-edged sword against a Madrid team that arrives emotionally touched after saying goodbye to the throne of the ‘Champions’, and doing so in a way a bit bitter
Carlo Ancelotti’s men were shaken at the Etihad Stadium by Manchester City, who thrashed them 4-0 and practically canceled them out, especially in a forgotten first half. Now, with no time to wear this symbolic mourning much, the 14-time European champion must focus on finishing the domestic season in the best possible way.
They don’t play as much as Rubén Baraja’s, so they will need to be very focused so as not to concede another league defeat at home, after losing in their last two outings at Montilivi and at the Reale Arena, clearly and without offering many guarantees.
Now they are visiting a Mestalla that is celebrating its centenary, and that it will be a ‘caldera’ and where it always tends to have a hard time, so it must radically change its image in the fight for the ‘consolation’ of being runner-up, where it now leads by two points to Atlético de Madrid.
Ancelotti was one of those who came out damaged from last Wednesday’s defeat and seems to be once again at the center of criticism, although there were other players who did not fare well either, as is surely the case with Karim Benzema, whose season is not being the dazzling of the previous one. There was not much participation from Vinicius Jr in the Etihad either, but the Brazilian winger has the endorsement of his best performance for almost the entire campaign.
The Italian coach distributed his efforts while the team was still ‘alive’ in the highest continental competition and it is likely that he will do so again at the start of a week with three games. For this reason, it could be an opportunity for players like Tchouameni, Ceballos, Asensio, Lucas Vázquez or Mendy in a game where Valencia cannot play with too much consideration.
Above, in any case, it is expected that both the French ‘9’ will remain, with the aim of once again crossing the barrier of 20 league goals and trying to fight for Robert Lewandowski’s ‘pichichi’, as well as a ‘Vini’ at that their coach has barely given rest this season.
Opposite, a Valencia that hopes that Saturday will be propitious for them in the matches of their direct rivals (Getafe and Almería) to leave the field with less pressure. The Valencian team began the day out of relegation after their agonizing victory in Balaídos, with another youth player in the spotlight like Alberto Marí, author of the decisive 1-2 draw.
Rubén Baraja had the ‘advantage’ of having the whole week to prepare for this important duel, where the three points are worth a lot because they would make him reach the 40s, that is, be much closer to salvation. The public will give a plus to a team that will have to manage the pressure well and not make mistakes against an opponent who, concentrated or not, usually forgives little.
The Valencian coach will have to recompose the center of his defense due to the losses due to suspension of Gabriel Paulista and Mouctar Diakhaby, while regarding the visit to Vigo he recovers Edinson Cavani, who is shaping up to be the starter, and Thierry Correia, who will fight for a position with Dimitri Foulquier.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Ozkacar, Comert, Gayà; Almeida, Guerra, Nico González; Hard, Linen and Kluivert.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas V., Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema and Vinicius Jr.
–REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco).
–STADIUM: Mestalla.
–TIME: 18.30/Movistar LaLiga TV.