This Valladolid welcomes Real Madrid this Friday in a match that doubles as a domestic league clash and a high-profile showcase after a season pause. The return of Karim Benzema adds extra intrigue, as the French forward comes back after questions about an early exit from the World Cup due to injury, with Valladolid taking a short break after earning nine points from 15 possible in recent league play.
All eyes will be on the current Ballon d’Or winner. Benzema arrives seeking to prove himself after months of strain. Muscle fatigue, discomfort, and injuries sidelined him for a stretch that saw Real Madrid miss nine of 21 games before Qatar 2022. He last appeared in the white jersey against Celtic in Glasgow on November 2, after 26 minutes. He has played four matches since, and the World Cup loomed as a big goal that ultimately faded. A day after the tournament began, the French Football Federation reported a left quad injury. He was back in action in a Madrid friendly on December 10, and his name lingered over the French camp during the tournament as Deschamps avoided addressing the subject. Benzema answered with training in Madrid and messages from his circle, suggesting he could have contributed after the group stage, but he did not play, leaving France to defend the crown without him. Now, following a recent off-field controversy, Real Madrid appears to be Benzema’s sanctuary once again, after nearly six years away for non-sporting reasons.
Benzema leaves the French team
In the buildup, Benzema is far from the form that helped him win last season’s Ballon d’Or with 44 goals and 15 assists. In attack, he will seek to reaffirm himself at José Zorrilla, pairing with a right winger who looks to feed Vinícius Junior and Marco Asensio as the frontline returns to its familiar rhythm.
Carrying the midfield duties will be the experience of Carlo Ancelotti with Luka Modrić, and the presence of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga who participated in training after the World Cup in Qatar. The coach signaled that priority would be given to players who have trained the longest at Valdebebas.
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There is also talk about Dani Ceballos’s future if his role with Real Madrid remains unclear. The coach has suggested that Ceballos could be in the plans, while Ceballos has limited minutes and is looking to renew or secure a move elsewhere starting January 1. The emphasis remains on a strong season-end push for Madrid.
Valverde is set to share the midfield with Kroos, aiming to balance defensive solidity with creative spark. In defense, Nacho could challenge Militao and Rüdiger as the squad continues to refine its Lezama-schooled cohesion.
Real Valladolid, led by former Madrid figure Ronaldo Nazario, faces questions about how the team will cope with a Madrid squad that has dominated recent meetings. The Blanquivioletas have been hampered by injuries, with El Yamiq sidelined by a hamstring issue and Plata expected to play but not fully match-fit after a long layoff.
Nearly two months after their last meeting, coach José Rojo “Pacheta” is weighing his options for the starting XI at José Zorrilla. He has rallied the squad despite some doubt. Among the doubts are Gonzalo Plata, Anuar, Olaza, El Yamiq, and Feddal, who were ruled out of action. The comeback storyline features Luis Pérez and Kenedy, though the latter may not log many minutes after a long period out of competition.
Pacheta did not underestimate the visitors. He acknowledged the quality and depth of Real Madrid while insisting that every match is approached with the same seriousness, regardless of the opponent. His plan centers on solid defense, compact positioning, and exploiting counter-moments when Madrid leaves spaces behind their wide players.
The key to troubling Madrid, according to Pacheta, is staying compact defensively to neutralize Real Madrid’s pace and between-line runs. He believes teams that press with bravery and speed can surprise, even against players like Benzema who thrive in transition moments.
Pacheta described Madrid as having a strong start, continuity, playmaking, and finishing capacity, while also defending well and recovering the ball quickly. He is ready for the challenge of this league clash, expressing high confidence in his players and genuine anticipation for the outcome. He stressed that the stadium will be full and that Madrid’s fans will travel in numbers, a pressure that Valladolid intends to turn into a home-field advantage.
Possible lineups
Valladolid: Masip; Fresneda, Fernández, Javi Sánchez, Escudero; Aguado, Iván Sánchez, Roque Mesa; Óscar Plano, Sergio León, Silve
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Ceballos, Valverde; Asensio, Benzema, Vinícius
Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero
Stadium: José Zorrilla
Time: 21:30 CET
Bench: Valladolid (12th, 17 points); Real Madrid (2nd, 35 points).
Key: Valladolid’s resilience without the ball against Real Madrid, the only team to score in 14 La Liga matches so far this season against the top flight’s leaders.
Data: Real Valladolid has not defeated Real Madrid in their last 13 La Liga meetings, with 11 losses and 2 draws.
Expressions
“Pacheta”: “Real Madrid are playing at a very high level. Valladolid can win because they know how to find a way.”
Ancelotti: “Benzema has returned with motivation and enthusiasm.”
Environment: The league resumes after the World Cup break. Real Madrid will have 13 players involved in international duty, so it remains to be seen how they respond in league play after a month and a half of friendlies for Valladolid — one win, three losses, and a draw, plus a King’s Cup win over Arenas Club 1-5.