Real Madrid will be looking to return to top spot in LaLiga in their rescheduled fixture against Valencia, for whom the new year marks a new beginning with a new head coach.
By Neel Shelat
Valencia facing the threat of relegation again
Valencia are one of the most storied clubs in Spanish football. Founded over a century ago, they have lifted 15 top-flight league and cup titles besides a couple of continental trophies. Those heights seem worlds away at the moment, though, as the club’s fortunes have taken a sharp downward trajectory over the last decade or so.
They started work to create a Nou Mestalla to replace their now-century-old home ground all the way back in 2007, but funding issues have left that project in limbo for the last 15 years. Indeed, the club’s ownership situation is one of their biggest pain points as Peter Lim is overwhelmingly unpopular among fans but has no plans to sell the club.
His perceived lack of interest and investment are cited as the biggest factors in Valencia’s downfall, causing the club to constantly get sucked into relegation battles. After a promising top-half finish last season, for example, they only made three permanent summer signings and barely invested over €1 million on transfer fees.
Could Carlos Corberán be the man to rescue Los Che?
Rubén Baraja’s nearly two-year-long spell in charge of Valencia made him the club’s second-longest serving coach for nearly twenty years. They have long been stuck in a vicious cycle whereby they bring in a relatively bigger name but fail to back them and drop into a relegation battle, at which point they decide to bring in a firefighter who steadies the ship before the loop repeats.
Carlos Corberán might just be the man who breaks that cycle, though. A boyhood fan of the club, he also came through their academy as a goalkeeper but failed to establish a strong senior career and quickly switched to coaching. He initially did not enjoy a lot of success but seemed to turn a page after working with Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. Since then, he has led Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion to promotion pushes in the English Championship.
Corberán will certainly fight tooth and nail to avoid Valencia’s second-ever relegation, and he also has the tactical nous to potentially kick on from there.
Another outing for Real Madrid’s first-choice front four
Real Madrid’s first-choice front four of Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé have only started six matches together so far this season as various injuries have kept them apart. They should all be ready to go for this match as Los Blancos’ injury list is now down to three defenders. Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão are out for the season, while David Alaba may return sooner.
The attacking quartet could have a field day against a Valencia side who are missing as many as seven players. The absences of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby and full backs José Gayà and Thierry Correia will surely have weakened their defence.
Prediction
Valencia could trouble Real Madrid with their new head coach bounce and potential for tactical surprises, but Los Blancos should have enough quality to come away with all three points.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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