Three points to consider ahead of Real Madrid versus Real Valladolid in La Liga GW2.

Only four teams finished Matchday 1 of La Liga with three points, including Real Valladolid. Paulo Pezzolano's squad opened their league campaign with a 1-0 victory over fellow newly promoted club Espanyol.

On Matchday 2, they face the defending champions, Real Madrid, who will be overwhelming favorites.

The game will be the first at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, and the men in white will hope to draw inspiration from the last time they faced the same opponents at home. After all, they scored six goals and annihilated their opponents.

Real Valladolid last beat Real Madrid in 2008, and the Merengues will try to extend their unblemished streak against the opposition with a sixth straight win.

Madrid Universal presents you three talking topics ahead of Real Madrid's match against Real Valladolid.

Pushing for the first win.

Real Madrid's season may have begun positively with a UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta. However, their La Liga title defence did not get off to a good start.

Last weekend, Real Madrid drew with Mallorca at Estadi de Son Moix, earning one point in the season opener.

Mallorca played an amazing game and had the best opportunities of the night. A draw was only fair for Los Blancos, who had gotten off to a bad start in the current La Liga season.

Tomorrow, the men in white will take the field at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time in the 2024-25 season, and the burden will be on them to secure the first three points in La Liga.

With Barcelona, Valladolid, Celta, and Rayo Vallecano all on a winning streak, Los Blancos must hit back as soon as possible, and there is no better way to do so than with a statement performance at home.

An tragic injury.

Jude Bellingham burst onto the scene for Real Madrid last season, becoming a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the first half of the season.

His form dipped towards the close of the 2023-24 season, and his results in Euro 2024 were not much better. Following his slump, he appeared to be in good form in Los Blancos' first games of the season.

Despite outstanding performances against Atalanta and Mallorca, the teenager has sustained a muscle injury and is anticipated to be out for one month. Without a doubt, Ancelotti's narrative undergoes significant development.

With his star midfielder missing, the Italian strategist must find the proper candidate to fill his spot on the field. Currently, his alternatives are Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, and Arda Guler.

The manager may go with one of the younger players against Real Valladolid, leaving Modric on the bench. His dilemma, however, is between two youthful names.

While Guler has recently stood out for his quality and attacking presence, he has garnered little notice in Real Madrid's first few games of the season. From a profile standpoint, he checks all the right boxes.

Diaz, on the other hand, is a hybrid No. 10 and winger with midfield versatility. The Moroccan star, on the other hand, did an excellent job of filling in for Bellingham last season and has some experience.

It will thus be intriguing to watch which candidate Ancelotti prefers, as it will most likely have a significant impact on the outcome.

Concentrate on the defence.

The most important takeaway from Real Madrid's match against Mallorca last weekend was the team's defensive play, which the manager criticized after the game.

Ancelotti openly criticized his team's poor defensive performance on the night, as the back four was frequently disrupted by Mallorca's attacks and appeared out of rhythm.

The spotlight tomorrow will be on Real Madrid's defenders and whether or not the department makes any tactical changes against Real Valladolid.

Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will have to buckle their seatbelts tomorrow, while Dani Carvajal will face Lucas Rosa.

Meanwhile, the left-back position is further complicated by Ferland Mendy's suspension following a red card in the previous game. As a result, Fran Garcia will take his place and face increased pressure to succeed.

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