Futbol Club Barcelona aims to turn Camp Nou into a party. The azulgrana visit the stadium as champions, soaking in the thrill of success and hoping that a fresh win will seal the celebration.
Real Sociedad, for its part, seeks to spoil the champions’ mood and pick up three points that could edge them closer to the dream of a Champions League spot next season. The Basque side sits in fourth place with 62 points, just two clear of Villarreal.
Join the GOAL Challenge in the Fantasy Kickbase game and grab incredible prizes: you can sign up here
DAZN subscriptions start at €18.99 per month to watch LaLiga 2022-2023
Reactions and curiosities from Valencia vs Real Madrid in the 2022-2023 season
Minute by minute
Minute 96. A red card to Vinicius after a scuffle, De Burgos Bengoetxea ejects the Brazilian.
Minute 93. Mamardashvili pulls off another great save as Kroos’ free kick strikes the post.
Minute 91. Courtois keeps Valencia at bay with a spectacular stop after Benzema lays it off for Valverde.
Minute 90. Ten minutes of added time.
Minute 86. Valverde and Carvajal enter for Tchouameni and Mendy.
Minute 83. Justin Kluivert’s goal is ruled offside.
Minute 72. The match pauses as Vinicius reports a racial insult from a spectator. The referee warns the steward and the public address system is activated to call for calm.
Minute 67. Rodrygo turns a chance into a late flourish inside the box, but Mamardashvili stops the shot and the ball bounces away for a corner. The crowd reaction shows how close the moment was to changing the game.
Minute 63. Kroos and Modric replace Asensio and Ceballos.
Minute 57. Foulquier and Samuel Lino come on for Cavani and Diego López.
Minute 55. Rodrygo finds space and fires a shot that forces a fine save from Mamardashvili.
Minute 53. Courtois parries again as Kluivert feeds Diego López, who scores but the defender’s block stops the finish from counting as the ball crashes into the Belgian wall.
Minute 47. Asensio starts Real Madrid’s improvement after the break with a cross that Lucas Vázquez feeds to him, but the shot goes wide.
Minute 46. The second half kicks off with Rodrygo replacing Camavinga.
Rest!
Minute 45. Courtois makes a pair of stunning saves to keep the match level as Valencia presses for a breakthrough before the break.
Minute 40. Vinicius tests the Valencia defense with a powerful header from a cross by Asensio, but the shot misses the target.
Minute 33. Diego López scores after a patient Valencia build-up culminates in a precise pass to the far post from Kluivert, beating Courtois. Mal Mendy appears overwhelmed by the run and Valencia’s young side exploits the space.
Minute 30. Benzema’s indirect free kick is attempted, but Mamardashvili handles it comfortably.
Minute 25. Real Madrid take control, pin Valencia back, yet chances remain limited despite Ancelotti’s adjustments.
Minute 11. The open start features both sides probing for dominance; Valencia looks marginally ahead in the early exchanges.
Minute 2. Diego López is close as a cross from Gayá builds danger; Cavani and Tchouaméni appeal for a penalty that does not come.
Minute 1. The match begins!
6:15 pm — Before kickoff, players receive final instructions in the locker rooms.
6:00 pm — The 22 protagonists warm up on the field.
5:45 pm — The goalkeepers prepare on Mestalla’s green.
17:20 — Valencia confirm their starting eleven
4:40 pm — Real Madrid confirm their starting eleven
The previous GOAL encounter between Valencia and Real Madrid in La Liga 2022-2023
- Valencia have lost their last four LaLiga games against Real Madrid, with a fifth straight defeat only once earlier in the 21st century, in November 2011 under Unai Emery.
- Real Madrid won 2-1 in Valencia on the last visit in September 2021, their only win in seven away trips to Los Che (D2, L4); a consecutive wins streak at Mestalla last occurred in December 2013 (5F).
- In January 2023, Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Villarreal when visiting a team from the Valencian Community, ending a series of seven matches without defeat in that region (3W 4D). They had not lost twice in a row there since May 2009 (2D).
- Valencia has claimed three wins in their last five LaLiga fixtures (two draws and no defeats in the others), matching their count from the previous 21 top-flight games (3W 5D 13L).
- Real Madrid have recorded seven losses in 34 LaLiga 2022/23 games (22V 5E), their second-highest loss tally at this stage in the last 15 seasons (nine in 2018/19, 20V 5E).
- Since March, Real Madrid shows a 5.6% away-goals percentage in LaLiga, ranking among the lowest away gains for the period.
- José Gayá, Valencia’s defender, leads LaLiga this season with 52 created chances for teammates.
- Marco Asensio, scorer of Madrid’s winner in the last league match vs Getafe, is involved in 15 goals in 28 LaLiga 2022/23 games (nine goals, six assists), a personal best in the competition for the season.
- Samuel Lino has three goals in his last five LaLiga meetings with Valencia, surpassing his previous five matches in the Premier League for goal output.
- Rubén Baraja will coach Real Madrid’s next encounter with a club from the Valencian Community; as a player he secured a 3-0 Mestalla win in May 2009, scoring the third goal late in the game.
Where to watch Valencia vs Real Madrid?
Lineups for Valencia vs Real Madrid
Valencia (4-3-3): Mamardashvili; Thierry, Comert, Ozkacar, Gayá; Nico González, Javi Guerra, Almeida; Kluivert, Diego López and Cavani.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Ceballos; Asensio, Vinícius and Benzema.
Source: Goal