Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
Reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid host Real Valladolid on Wednesday evening in their first home match of the 2020/21 campaign.
Zinedine Zidane's side will welcome Valladolid to the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium, as they continue to contest their home matches at the training ground while games are played behind closed doors.
Valladolid's last away trip to Los Blancos took place in the more grandiose surroundings of a packed Santiago Bernabéu, but yielded an impressive 1-1 draw. The team, owned by the Brazilian Madrid legend Ronaldo, are yet to record a win in the embryonic stages of the current campaign – and it will be a tough ask to register their first on Wednesday.
Where to Watch on TV
When Is Kick Off? Wednesday 30 September
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:30 (BST)
Where Is it Being Played? Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? La Liga TV (UK), beIN Sports (US)
Referee? César Soto Grado
Team News
Real Madrid's midfield metronome Toni Kroos was forced off against Real Betis on the weekend and is out for the midweek fixture. Left-back Marcelo is also struggling with his fitness, while Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio and Eder Militao are all unlikely to feature having missed the opening two games of the season.
Valladolid were dealt a major blow when goalkeeper Jordi Masip - who enjoyed a remarkable campaign last season - tested positive for coronavirus last week.
Predicted Lineup
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro; Valverde, Odegaard, Vinicius; Benzema.
Real Valladolid: Jimenez; L. Perez, Gonzalez, Sanchez, Martinez; Orellana, K. Perez, Michel, Carnero; Guardiola, Villa.
Recent Form
Madrid began their title defence with dropped points away to Real Sociedad, and were forced to come from behind against Real Betis last Saturday, when Sergio Ramos' Panenka penalty in the 82nd minute snatched all three points after Betis were reduced to ten men.
Zidane opted for a two-striker system on Saturday after going with a 4-2-3-1 in Real's opening fixture, as the legendary Frenchman experiments with the numerous attacking options at his disposal, despite a lack of transfer activity this summer.
Valladolid are winless from their opening three games of the season, a continuation of the worrisome form they ended the previous campaign with - losing three of their final four matches.
Here's how each side has fared in their last five outings.
Real Madrid
Real Betis 2-3 Real Madrid (26/9)
Real Sociedad 0-0 Real Madrid (20/9)
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid (7/8)
Leganes 2-2 Real Madrid (19/7)
Real Madrid 2-1 Villarreal (16/7)
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid 1-1 Celta Vigo (27/9)
Real Betis 2-0 Real Valladolid (20/9)
Real Valladolid 1-1 Real Sociedad (13/9)
Real Valladolid 2-0 Real Betis (19/7)
Eibar 3-1 Real Valladolid (16/7)
Prediction
Real Madrid's two outings this campaign have both included spells of impressive football with a particular focus on pressing the opposition. However, each match has also seen the side in white noticeably, and understandably, tire as the game wore on.
Valladolid were perhaps slightly fortunate to finish as high as 13th last season and owe much of their lack of a relegation scrap to the heroics of Masip between the posts. Yet, with their regular number one sidelined - and West Ham icon Roberto taking his place - they have been greatly weakened.
Zidane will take this match as another opportunity to tinker, but the sheer individual quality of Madrid's players should, in theory, be too much for Valladolid, even if the Frenchman doesn't find the ideal system on Wednesday night.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid