**Real Madrid Aims for Fourth Straight La Liga Win Against Valencia**
Real Madrid will look to secure their fourth consecutive La Liga victory when they host Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon. Currently sitting second in the table, Carlo Ancelotti’s side trails league leaders Barcelona by three points. Meanwhile, Valencia, unbeaten in their last four matches, sits in 15th place, just four points clear of the relegation zone.
### **Recent Form and Context**
Real Madrid comes into this match fresh off an exhilarating 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg, which saw them advance to the final 5-4 on aggregate. Their focus now shifts back to La Liga, where they cannot afford any slip-ups in the tight title race. A 3-2 win over Leganés in their last league outing kept them within striking distance of Barcelona, but maintaining momentum will be crucial ahead of next week’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Arsenal.
Valencia, on the other hand, last played on March 30, securing a 1-0 home victory over Mallorca. Their recent upturn in form—eight points from their last four matches—has provided some breathing room in the relegation battle. However, their away record remains a major concern, with just seven points from 14 matches and no wins on the road this season.
### **Head-to-Head and Historical Trends**
Real Madrid has dominated this fixture in recent years, with Valencia’s last away league win against Los Blancos dating back to March 2008. The reverse fixture earlier this season saw Real Madrid claim a 2-1 victory at Mestalla.
### **Team News**
**Real Madrid:**
– Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined with a muscular issue, meaning Andriy Lunin will continue in goal despite a minor calf concern.
– Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy are expected to return for the Champions League but will miss this match.
– Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão remain out with long-term knee injuries.
– Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger are likely to return to the starting lineup, with Fran García set to feature at left-back.
**Valencia:**
– Cristian Rivero and Thierry Correia are injured, while Dimitri Foulquier, José Gayà, and Luis Rioja are suspended.
– Youngster Yarek Gasiorowski could start at left-back, with Jesús Vázquez and Fran Pérez also in contention for spots in the lineup.
### **Predicted Lineups**
**Real Madrid:** Lunin; Vázquez, Asencio, Rüdiger, F. García; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinícius; Mbappé.
**Valencia:** Mamardashvili; Vázquez, Tárrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski; Guerra, Barrenechea; Pérez, Almeida, D. López; Sadiq.
### **Match Prediction**
Despite Valencia’s improved form, their struggles away from home make Real Madrid the favorites. Expect a hard-fought contest, but the hosts should edge it with a narrow 2-1 victory to keep the pressure on Barcelona in the title race.