Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid preview

May 6, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Valladolid vs Real MadridA lot will be at stake for both sides when relegation-threatened Real Valladolid host title contenders Real Madrid at Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Wednesday evening.

And while the hosts would leave the relegation zone with a draw or a win, los Blancos desperately need all three points to keep their title hopes alive.

Real Valladolid have been in and around the relegation zone throughout the campaign, but the team seem to be in a good position to escape the drop.

Things were not looking good for Juan Ignacio Martinez and his men following the 4-1 loss to Celta Vigo, but Pucela recorded a very important victory over Espanyol at the weekend to boost their survival hopes.

Valladolid now sit one point behind safety, but with a game in hand, while they face Real Betis away and Granada at home in their final two fixtures.

And with Pucela unbeaten in last eleven matches on home soil, odds of 4.50 (7/2) offered at Stan James on Valladolid not to lose definitely need to be considered.

The hosts will be without star striker Manucho through a knee ligament injury, with the Angolan scoring two goals past Real Madrid in the same fixture last season.

Fausto Rossi misses out through suspension, but Alvaro Rubio and Zakarya Bergdich are available after they were banned for the Espanyol game.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Jaime – Rukavina, Valiente, Mitrovic, Pena – Rubio, V. Perez – Larsson, Oscar, Bergdich – Guerra.

With both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona suffering unexpected slip ups, Real Madrid had a glorious opportunity to improve their titles hope by defeating Valencia at home.

And even if Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest several starters after the 4-0 triumph over Bayern Munich, los Blancos were expected to record a comfortable win.

However, they were repeatedly frustrated by Valencia keeper Diego Alves and in the end scored a very late goal to salvage one point.

The point could prove crucial in the final count as it could allow Real to win the league title in case Atleticon lose at Camp Nou on the final day of the season.

For that to happen, los Blancos obviously need to win the three remaining games, and it is hardly surprising they are just 1.22 (2/9) to defeat Real Valladolid.

Luka Modric could be recalled after he missed the Valencia clash through minor injury, but Jese Rodriguez, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sami Khedira remain on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Lopez – Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao – Modric, Alonso, Di Maria – Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

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