Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid - La Liga: TV channel, team news, lineups and prediction
Real Valladolid host reigning champions Real Madrid in their last La Liga fixture of the calendar year on Friday night.
After a sticky start to life back in Spain's top flight - winning one of their first six matches following promotion - Valladolid climbed out of the relegation zone in October, signing off with three consecutive home victories before the World Cup.
Real Madrid lost their last two away games in a groggy conclusion La Liga's first half. Los Blancos have a comfortable cushion above Real Sociedad in third-place but trail Barcelona by two points at the summit.
Here's everything you need to know about La Liga's first week back after the World Cup.
Where are Valladolid vs Real Madrid playing?
- Location: Valladolid, Spain
- Stadium: Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla
- Date: Friday 30 December
- Kick-off Time: 20:30 GMT / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT
- VAR: Jesus Gil Manzano
- Referee: Jose Luis Munuera Montero
Valladolid vs Real Madrid H2H Results (Last Five Games)
- Valladolid: 0 Wins
- Real Madrid: 4 Wins
- Draws: 1
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Valladolid: LWLWW
- Real Madrid: LDWLW
How to watch Valladolid vs Real Madrid on TV and live stream
United Kingdom
- Viaplay Sports 2 (UK)
- LaLigaTV (UK)
United States
- ESPN+ (United States)
Canada
- TSN (Canada)
Valladolid team news
Jawad El Yamiq was drafted into Morocco's starting XI during the World Cup due to the spate of defensive injuries suffered en route to the semi-finals. However, the 30-year-old picked up a hamstring problem of his own in the third-place playoff.
El Yamiq's compatriot Anuar wasn't part of the Atlas Lions squad after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury in September. The former Chelsea serial loanee Kenedy is also a doubt while he nurses a groin issue.
Valladolid predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Valladolid Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Masip; Fresneda, Fernandez, J Sanchez, Escudero; K Perez, Aguado; I Sanchez, Plano, Mesa; Weissman.
Bench: Asenjo, Plata, Leon, Monchu, Feddal, L Perez, Guardiola, Malsa, Narvaez.
Real Madrid team news
13 Real Madrid players travelled to the World Cup and three made it beyond the quarter-finals. It could have been four but Karim Benzema left France's squad early after sustaining an injury in training. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner has turned out for Madrid since, featuring in a friendly against Leganes, but his compatriots Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga may not be rushed straight back into action.
37-year-old Luka Modric started all seven World Cup games as Croatia finished third and could be another figure that Carlo Ancelotti saves until the new year.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Valladolid
Real Madrid Starting 11 (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius.
Bench: Lunin, Vallejo, Vazquez, Asensio, Fernandez, Diaz, Odriozola, Hazard, Militao.
Valladolid vs Real Madrid score prediction
Only fellow promoted side Almeria are more reliant upon home games for points than Valladolid this season - three-quarters of the haul Pacheta's side have collected this season have come at the Jose Zorrilla.
Even with home advantage, it would represent a sizeable upset if Valladolid could earn a result against opposition they haven't beaten since 2008.
After a football career which began in 1977, Ancelotti will know better than most that nothing in this game is guaranteed. Although, anything other than a victory for Madrid would certainly see more than one eyebrow raised in the Spanish capital.
Prediction: Valladolid 1-3 Real Madrid