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Real Madrid will take on Valencia in a match that was previously postponed because of tragic … [+]
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make a couple of changes against Valencia, in a La Liga match that was previously postponed because of tragic flooding in the latter’s region.
Los Blancos can go top of the league with a win, which is a welcomed surprise to Ancelotti considering his men were once as many as six points behind previous leaders FC Barcelona after a 4-0 loss to them in El Clasico at the Bernabeu in late October.
Winning this game in hand can put Madrid two points clear of crosstown foe Atletico Madrid, and Ancelotti believes that things can finish tight at the top come May.
“Nobody expected it,” Ancelotti first said of Barca’s decline at a prematch press conference, where he also commented on the Dani Olmo registration debacle.
“But the level of competitiveness in La Liga lowers the points you need to win the title a little. The fact that Atletico is there also generates uncertainty and I think it will take less than 90 points to be champions.
“As it happened to us in November, it happened to Barcelona in December. You have a slump and then you get competitive as before. Barcelona and Atletico have the same chances to compete in La Liga with us,” he added.
As for 2025, Ancelotti said that his side is “starting a new challenge with great enthusiasm”.
“It’s going to be a demanding match, Valencia has changed its coach and it’s always been difficult for us to play against Valencia.
“We want to start the year well. It’s a very important match. The team is fine. The rest days have gone well. They have all come back motivated and in top shape.”
Because of this, Ancelotti will put out the best outfit available to him injuries aside.
It consists of Thibaut Courtois in goal, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy as the right and left backs, then Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger as central defenders.
Dani Ceballos keeps his place in midfield, in a double pivot alongside Fede Valverde, as they provide support to a more attacking Jude Bellingham on the same lines as left winger Vinicius Jr. and right winger Rodrygo.
Up top, a Kylian Mbappe finally starting to find form before the Christmas break is the lone number 9 striker.
Regarding Vinicius, who was suspended last time out against Sevilla, Ancelotti said that the Brazilian is doing “very well”.
“The holidays that the players have had have been good for them. He is fresh, excited and motivated by the awards he has received in recent days. He’s focused on making the difference tomorrow.”
Vinicius of course has a history at the Mestalla, but Ancelotti said that his men are “thinking about what we are going to find on the pitch” as opposed to in the stands.
“It’s an opponent who has changed coaches and can give extra motivation to the players. For me [Ruben] Baraja did a fantastic job, but this happens in football. We expect a demanding match. We have to be focused on the game and nothing else,” Ancelotti insisted.
