Free-scoring Real should punish leaky Valencia

La Liga
3.15pm, Saturday

Real Madrid’s defeat to title-challengers Barcelona last weekend was their first La Liga upset at the Bernabeu since February last year but they should bounce back in style by punishing a defensively fragile Valencia.

Real trail leaders Barcelona on goal difference but have a vital game in hand and could pile the pressure on their Catalan rivals, who face a tricky test at Espanyol later in the day.

Zinedine Zidane made a host of changes for their 6-2 mauling of Deportivo in midweek, resting Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, and with their star names set to return it’s difficult to envisage Valencia pulling off an upset.

Valencia ran out 2-1 winners against Real at the Mestalla two months ago but have picked up just 15 of their 40 points on the road and have not won at the Bernabeu since 2008.

The last eight meetings between the sides have seen both teams find the net and given Madrid have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 La Liga games, Valencia’s chances of breaking down Los Blancos’ rearguard are quite high.

The Bats have failed to score in just four of their 17 away trips this term and are worth backing to notch a consolation.

Recommendation
Real Madrid to win and both teams to score
2pts 5-6Betfair, Coral, Ladbrokes

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