Real Madrid vs Valencia Prediction and Betting Tips: Two picks for La Liga match

After a disappointing 0-0 draw last time out in La Liga which allowed this season's Spanish surprise package Girona to usurp them once more as league leaders, Real Madrid got back on the horse with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Braga in the Champions League.

Now determined to get back to winning ways domestically, Valencia are the visitors in the capital, and Billy Grimshaw is expecting the Spanish giants to bounce back...

Although many Madristas cannot countenance being behind a Catalonian club at any point in the league, the notion that Barcelona would be four back from Los Blancos yet the record Champions League winners would still be trailing little old Girona in second would've seemed fanciful at the start of this La Liga season.

Nevertheless, the 'fairytale' (they are owned by City Football Group after all) is happening in real time in Spain, but Real Madrid are not the sort of club to indulge in make belief stories and will be determined to get back to the place they believe is their birth right; the La Liga summit.

Standing in their way on Saturday night are Valencia, something of a fallen giant in Spanish football who this season are looking solid if not spectacular, hunting European football in eighth. The visitors arrive buoyed by a win last time out over Granada, a hard fought 1-0 triumph, and will not be an easy nut to crack but with Madrid having a rested Jude Bellingham among others back in the starting eleven, a home win looks the logical play.

Madrid are priced at 4/11 for three points, the draw is 13/5 and the visitors are 9/1 outsiders.

Real Madrid have always been a fearsome opponent at the awe inspiring Bernabeu, but this season and particularly in recent weeks they have made it an exceptionally tough place to go. Not since September 17th have the Madridismo seen their side concede a goal at home, yielding four wins and one draw. That 0-0 snoozefest was of course last weekend but Los Blancos did dominate the game and were unfortunate not to win.

Los Che head to Madrid a fresher side as they are not involved in European competitions this season, meaning they have had the full week to rest and prepare for their mammoth task. Last season this game finished with a 2-0 score-line in favour of Madrid and something similar looks to be the sensible play to me here.

Valencia do bring with them a five game unbeaten streak and will certainly not be overawed, with twenty year old Javi Gurra surely keen to make a mark in front of some potential suitors at the Bernabeu. However, Madrid seem to have really found a formula at home now for grinding results out and with the international break looming, I cannot see Carlo Ancelotti's men dropping further points at home and potentially ceding more ground in the title race.

Madrid certainly weren't tested to their limits against Braga in midweek but there was some nice play from their forward unit which is a welcome sight for a side that have been a touch clunky going forward. They should have enough guile and gumption to unlock the Valencia rear guard and the clean sheet streak can continue.

It seems like every few days, the twitter accounts that are prone to hyperbole are posting a picture of Jude Bellingham with his arms stretched a la the threatened ant eater (google it) exclaiming another record the Brummy has broken in La Liga. Still somehow only twenty (sorry, that is one of the most overused facts in football), the former Dortmund man is the favourite for the 2024 Balon D'Or and if he continues on his current trajectory, it's clear to see why.

Bellingham has an astonishing record of being on the pitch almost all of the time his team have been playing since bursting Micah Richardsesque onto the scenes at Birmingham; rest is a rarity for the midfield maestro. The fact Carlo Ancelotti took the chance in mid week to leave his starlet on the bench will be hugely positive for Bellingham heading into this game and indeed the international break and, in my opinion, 7/1 about him bagging another brace looks appetising.

The last time Bellingham banged two in a single game was of course at Camp Nou, when Real snatched El Clasico at the death from their biggest rivals. If Bellingham fades into obscurity from here on out (highly unlikely, I know), he will always be remembered fondly for that game by Los Blancos fans. The positions Bellingham has been picking up are a mixture of penalty box poacher and midfield conductor for Real and with his new found desire to be a Messi / Ronaldo level bagsman, the stand out 7/1 on offer with Skybet for him to get two or more goals before jetting off for England duty to delight Three Lions fans once more should be snaffled.