Valencia and Real Madrid go head-to-head at Mestalla on Sunday night in a La Liga clash.
Real Madrid arrive in Valencia sitting second in La Liga with 54 points from 22 games, just four behind leaders Barcelona with one game in hand. Los Che are 16th on 23 points and only a point clear of the relegation zone.
Valencia vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 8th February.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia.
Valencia team news
Valencia are dealing with several absences. Backup goalkeeper Cristian Rivero suspended and centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby sidelined by a hamstring injury.
First‑choice goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala is also out injured, meaning Stole Dimitrievski is expected to start in goal after recovering from an adductor problem that had kept him sidelined in December.
Right-back Thierry Correia is a doubt with a hamstring issue, so Dimitri Foulquier is in line to continue at full-back despite recent fitness concerns.
Carlos Corberan’s side has relied heavily on Hugo Duro, who has scored seven La Liga goals this season. He is expected to lead the line again alongside Lucas Beltrán.
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid travel to Mestalla badly depleted, with several key players unavailable through injury or suspension.
Jude Bellingham is out with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for around a month, while centre-back Eder Militao faces another spell out with a hamstring problem.
Rodrygo has also suffered a hamstring injury and will miss the trip, having been ruled out for at least 10 days by Real Madrid’s medical staff.
Vinicius Junior is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, further reducing Alvaro Arbeloa’s attacking options after his side’s bruising recent fixtures.
At the back, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy are also sidelined, leaving Real Madrid light in central defence and at left-back.
The main positive for Arbeloa is that Trent Alexander‑Arnold is available for the first time in 2026 after a thigh problem. The Englishman is in contention to start at right-back.
Form
Valencia
Valencia comes into this game on the back of a 2-1 Copa del Rey quarter-final defeat at home to Athletic Club and a 2-1 LaLiga loss away to Real Betis.
However, before that they had put together three straight wins in all competitions – against Espanyol, Getafe and Burgos – and 17 of their 23 league points this season have been earned at Mestalla, where they have not lost a LaLiga game since October.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have won their last six LaLiga matches and are aiming for a seventh consecutive league victory, a run that has kept them firmly in the title race behind Barcelona.
Across all competitions, their last five games show four wins – including league victories over Villarreal, Levante and Rayo Vallecano and a 6-1 dismantling of Monaco – with the only setback being a 4-2 Champions League loss away to Benfica.
Predicted lineups
Valencia: Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Comert, Copete, Gaya; Rioja, Urginic, Pepelu, Danjuma; Beltran, Duro
Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Brahim
How to watch Valencia vs Real Madrid
In the UK, Valencia vs Real Madrid will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.
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