Champions Real Madrid kick-off their 2012/13 Spanish La Liga season in the comfort of their home but will visitors Valencia leave them insecure at the end of the day?

Real Madrid vs Valencia will see Los Blancos play as La Liga champions.Team news

Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria are fresh from scoring on international duty this week. These two attacking players are likely to start with Mesut Özil and Gonzalo Higuain. Pepe is fit and should partner Fabio Coentrao in defence while Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira will probably find their spot as defensive midfielders. There will probably be no surprise in Jose Mourinho’s line-up.

Meanwhile, Portuguese defender Joao Pereira and ex-Real Madrid boy Fernando Gago are expected to make their Valencia debut under coach Mauricio Pellegrino. Pereira and Gago will be hoping to get the better of Cristiano Ronaldo while Andres Guardado’s task will be to increase Los Che’s chances in attack.

 

Valencia are sweating over the fitness of new signing Sergio Canales, Ever Banega and goal poacher Roberto Soldado. These three players may not be ready in time to face Real Madrid on Sunday.

Analysis

Real Madrid and Valencia drew goalless in their last meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu. This is one disappointing result Los Blancos will want to avoid. Real Madrid exhibited their scoring machine during the preseason and they are aiming to build on that. The Spanish giants’ idea is not only to win, but to secure a mind boggling result as a loud warning to Barcelona and the other 18 La Liga participants.

Meanwhile, Valencia have made this clear: they are going to the Santiago Bernabeu to win against all the odds. Los Che carry the hopes of those who think the Primera Division must not be a two-horse race for the sake of its standard.

In fact, the outcome of Sunday’s titanic showdown will help pundits answer a few questions – one of which is the following: are Real Madrid solid enough to possibly replicate their 100-point achievement this season?

Last five meetings

April 18, 2010: Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia
December 4, 2010: Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia
April 23, 2011: Valencia 3-6 Real Madrid
November 19, 2011: Valencia 2-3 Real Madrid
April 8, 2012:
Real Madrid 0-0 Valencia

Relevant facts

• Real Madrid have collected 54 points from a possible 63 on home soil in La Liga.

• Valencia have not scored against Real Madrid in their last four meetings at the Santiago Bernabeu.

• Real Madrid opened their La Liga campaign with a match against Valencia seven times in the past.

• Valencia are targeting their third opening La Liga match victory against Real Madrid in eight meetings.

Prediction

Real Madrid will dominate the match but Valencia might find a few opportunities to embarrass the champions.

Scores: Real Madrid 3-1 Valencia