Real Madrid wants to storm the lead on the return
The whites return to LaLiga and evaluate their moment, just two points behind Barça, against a Valladolid without urgency
MADRID, 29 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visits Real Valladolid this Friday (9:30 p.m.) on matchday 15 of LaLiga Santander, with the leadership held by FC Barcelona just two points between their eyebrows to put pressure on the Catalans and sleep at the top of the table, while the Pucelano team faces the duel installed in the quiet zone of the classification, without emergencies or anything to lose.
Carlo Ancelotti’s pupils culminate their particular ‘pre-season’ at the Nuevo José Zorrilla, in what will be the first test for the white team after the World Cup break. The match against the ‘blanquivioletas’ will serve to evaluate the moment that a squad that finished the first part of the season was experiencing somewhat physically fair, as well as to end a 2022 full of joy -with four titles- with a smile.
The match against Valladolid will cut the ribbon for Real Madrid’s private marathon in the next two months, without a break until the end of February with up to 17 matches from five different competitions. In addition, the physical aspect as one of the unknowns to be resolved in the coming weeks. “We arrived with great enthusiasm to return. We have recovered Benzema well. Those who have returned are fine, although I will give priority to the players who have trained here,” the Italian analyzed before the duel.
The whites face the last match of the year second in the table with 35 points, just two behind leaders Barça and with the last suffered victory (2-1) over Cádiz in memory. After a brilliant start to the competition, the meringues noted the saturated calendar and the few rotations in the duels prior to the World Cup. Now, with the batteries charged, the matter to improve should be the defensive facet, after conceding 14 goals in 14 games. Their only defeat so far came as a visitor (3-2, against Rayo).
Ancelotti only has the safe loss of Mariano Díaz, due to a sprained ankle. Finally, the World Cup players Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, semifinalists and finalists, respectively, will be in Zorrilla, with only one training session in Valdebebas. On Monday the Brazilians Rodrygo, Militao and Vinicius joined, the latter is the one with the most options to be a starter.
Courtois will not fail, with a line of four made up of Carvajal, Rüdiger -to the detriment of the Rio de Janeiro center-back-, Alaba and Mendy. The absence of the ’10’, at least from the beginning, gives wings to the ownership of Ceballos, in a midfield with Kroos and Valverde. Benzema, apparently recovered, points to a ‘eleven’ in which he has not appeared since October 19. The Frenchman has only played 28 minutes in the last six official matches before the World Cup. With Vinicius on the left, the Ballon d’Or would also be accompanied by Asensio, with Rodrygo with hardly any training.
Regarding the balance of direct confrontations, Real Madrid has not lost since November 2008, which is why it has gone 13 unbeaten duels against the Valladolid team. The statistics for Zorrilla alone are not very encouraging for Valladolid either, since they have only been able to celebrate two wins against the whites in their fiefdom in the last 20 years.
Pacheta’s team lives in the quiet area of ??the table, twelfth with 17 units, 6 above relegation, which gives some oxygen to a team that ended up in tune before the break. It is already a team of the 16th Cup after passing the first two qualifiers and added three wins -Elche, Real Sociedad and Celta- in the last five league games.
The Burgos coach will not be able to count on Zou Feddal, Anuar and the World Cup semifinalist Jawad El Yamiq. Olaza and Kenedy, touched, are doubtful, while Gonzalo Plata points to the list after being absent due to tonsillopharyngitis during the week. Pacheta will have to choose between Sergio León or Weissman in the position of ‘9’, as well as choosing who accompanies Roque Mesa between Aguado, Monchu and Kike Pérez.
“We are preparing it the same as any other game, with the particularity that the player has been thinking about him for a month and that the motivation is already there and I, perhaps, have to stop it. We prepare the game to be brave and to win because if you change a lot, you send the players an equivocal message and doubt,” Pacheta explained this Wednesday at a press conference.
VALLADOLID: Masip; Fresneda, Joaquin, Javi Sanchez, Escudero; Roque Mesa, Aguado, Kike Perez; Gonzalo Plata, Oscar Plano and Sergio León.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Rüfiger, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Valverde, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema and Vinicius.
–REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C. Andalusia).
–STADIUM: Jose Zorrilla.
