La Liga Preview: Bellingham Out! Can Real Madrid Still Hope for Their First League Win? Will Valladolid Cause an Upset?

At 23:00 on August 25, the second round of the 24/25 La Liga season continues with reigning champions Real Madrid hosting newly promoted Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Last season, Real Madrid swept the La Liga, UEFA Champions League, and Spanish Super Cup titles. During the off-season, they continued to strengthen their squad by signing Mbappé on a free transfer, alongside Bellingham, Vinicius, and Rodrigo, setting sail once again with a luxurious Galacticos lineup. In the previous UEFA Super Cup, Mbappé scored on his debut, helping Real Madrid secure a 2-0 victory over Atalanta and lift the trophy.

However, in the first round of La Liga away against Mallorca, Real Madrid stumbled. Despite Rodrigo scoring first, they were eventually held to a 1-1 draw, failing to start the season with a win. With Kroos’ retirement, Real Madrid’s offensive organization has appeared disorganized, and with Mbappé, Vinicius, and Bellingham all crowding the left flank, the utilization of the right flank is too low.

Interestingly, after the first round of La Liga, Rodrigo’s team called for more respect from the media, suggesting that the relationship among the four €100 million players may not be as harmonious as it appears.

Before the second round, Real Madrid suffered another major blow as Bellingham is out injured for at least a month, increasing the difficulty for Ancelotti’s tactical arrangements.

Real Valladolid successfully returned to La Liga and spent 16.5 million euros to bring in seven new signings this summer, including signing Real Madrid forward Llorente for 2.5 million. In their first La Liga match, Real Valladolid defended their home turf, winning 1-0 against Espanyol in a battle of promoted teams.

The Galacticos have gone unbeaten in 33 consecutive La Liga rounds. Their last league defeat was in the sixth round of last season, losing 1-3 away to city rivals Atlético Madrid. In their recent 10 matches, Real Madrid have won 5, drawn 3, and lost 2, with both losses coming in friendlies. If we only count official games, Real Madrid’s last loss was in the Copa del Rey round of 16 last season, also against Atlético Madrid.

Real Madrid are undoubtedly an attacking team, scoring 21 goals in their last 10 games but being shut out twice. In their last 10 home games, Real Madrid have won 7, drawn 2, and lost 1, with a win rate of 70%, scoring 22 goals and conceding only 8, performing well on both offense and defense. Real Valladolid have also won 5, drawn 1, and lost 4 in their last 10 away games, but most of these were Segunda Division matches.

Real Madrid and Real Valladolid have met many times. In the last 10 encounters, the Galacticos have won 8 and drawn 2. In fact, in the last 15 meetings, Real Madrid have remained unbeaten with 13 wins and 2 draws, with their last defeat against this opponent dating back to November 2008. In their last 14 home games against Real Valladolid, Real Madrid have won 11 and drawn 3, with their last home loss against this opponent going back to May 2000, when they lost 0-1.

In terms of paper strength and past records, Real Madrid are clearly the stronger side. However, with Mbappé still finding his footing with teammates, Bellingham’s absence, disorganized midfield play, and top-heavy issues, the game adds variables, leaving Real Valladolid with some chance.

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