Valencia vs Real Madrid Predictions

• Valencia have not conceded more than once in their last 10 home league matches
• Real Madrid have failed to score more than once in three of their last five away La Liga matches
• Real Madrid have not scored more than once in their last three games without top scorer Jude Bellingham

Bellingham has been a big miss for Madrid

Real Madrid hope to have Jude Bellingham back on their bench for Saturday’s trip to Valencia and they may need their top scorer to play more than just a few minutes if they are to come away from the Mestalla with all three points.

Since spraining his ankle against Girona last month, Bellingham has been following a fitness schedule aimed at getting him ready to start against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 return leg next week.

The Englishman, who has been a big miss based on Real’s recent scoring output, should see some action as a substitute on Saturday. In three games without him, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have not scored more than once in any game.

Los Che are solid in defence

The Bernabeu giants beat the Red Bulls 1-0 in Germany before being held 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano and scraping a 1-0 home win over Sevilla. In all three of the games, Ancelotti’s side created enough chances to score more than once, but they appear to lack a reliable finisher now.

They may need one against a Valencia side that have been pretty tight in defence – especially at home. Los Che have not shipped more than one goal in any of their last 10 La Liga games at the Mestalla, which includes visits from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Ruben Baraja’s side kept a clean sheet at home to Sevilla last time out and come into the game much fresher than the visitors after a 14-day break. They can keep the score down and may even pinch a point in a contest where the result may not be as important as getting Bellingham back for Real, who have a six-point lead at the summit of La Liga.