Real Madrid need three points this weekend to keep on Barcelona’s tails in the Spanish title race

Real Madrid need three points this weekend to keep on Barcelona’s tails in the Spanish title race. A resurgent Valencia side provides the opposition at the Santiago Bernabeu.

With Barca on a roll, there’s little margin for error here from a home perspective. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are not playing convincing football right now though, with their decision not to invest in defensive cover in January, starting to look like a major error.

They shipped four goals at home to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey in midweek. While Antonio Rudiger’s extra-time header ensured they ultimately won that tie, the natives at the Bernabeu are sounding increasingly restless as we approach the business end of the campaign.

Without an away win in La Liga all season, Valencia, in theory, shouldn’t be much of a match for the defending champions here. However, Los Che have picked up considerably since Carlos Corberan took charge. They’ve lost just once in eight league matches since conceding seven at Barcelona in January.

Four of the last five meetings have served up red cards, with this fixture frequently getting a little bit feisty. While Real Madrid have often slipped up on recent trips to Mestalla, meetings at the Bernabeu have been much more comfortable for Los Blancos who have won the last six clashes between the clubs in front of their own fans.

Ancelotti may consider some light rotation ahead of a Champions League trip to London. He still has doubts over Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos, but Thibaut Courtois may return in goal.

Valencia’s chances aren’t helped by suspensions for Jose Gaya, Luis Rioja and Dimitri Foulquier. That will force Corberan into some changes, with a switch to a back five possible.

Real Madrid: Courtois, F. Garcia, Rudiger, Asencio, Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Modric, Brahim, Vinicius, Mbappe.

Valencia: Mamardashvili, Vazquez, Diakhaby, Tarrega, Mosquera, Aarons, Guerra, Almeida, Barrenechea, D. Lopez, Sadiq.