With the La Liga title race a thrilling three-horse chase entering 2025, Real Madrid look to make their move as they visit Valencia in the Spanish top flight on Friday.
Los Blancos sit second in the table, just a point behind cross-town rivals Atleti. Barcelona sit third two points further back having played an extra game.
It took Carlo Ancelotti a while to figure out the right mix up front, but he seems to have finally pushed the right buttons and has Europe’s most successful club on a roll.
Valencia, meanwhile, are in 19th and in danger of relegation. The big Spanish side has flirted with relegation numerous times in the past decade and could be in for a second-half battle against what would be a shocking drop.
MORE: A complete guide to betting on soccer in the United States
Valencia vs. Real Madrid prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Real Madrid (-250 on BetMGM)
- Score prediction: Valencia 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid seem to have found a bit of a stride, leaning into their attacking stars to pummel opponents knowing their defense is a weakness. They’ve put up three or more goals in each of their last five games, winning four and drawing the other.
Getting Kylian Mbappe back to his best has been key for Los Blancos, and against a Valencia side in the relegation zone, there’s little to suggest the high-flying run will end here.
| BetMGM (USA) |
|
| Valencia win | +725 |
| Draw | +375 |
| Real Madrid win | -250 |
| Both teams to score |
Y: +105 N: -145 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals |
O: -140 U: +100 |
| Real Madrid -1.5 goals |
+105 |
| Valencia +1.5 goals |
-145 |
Valencia vs. Real Madrid match facts
- Date: Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 9 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
- Location: Mestalla Stadium (Valencia, Spain)
- Referee: Cesar Soto
- Last meeting: Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid (Mar. 2, 2024 | La Liga)
Valencia vs. Real Madrid best bet
- Pick: Over 3.5 total goals
- Odds: +180 (BetMGM)
Carlo Ancelotti has unleashed his Real Madrid side, going all-in on outscoring the opponent. With so many injuries to his back line, Ancelotti decided to abandon Madrid’s suffer-ball mentality and just lean into their world-class attacking talent.
They’re up against a Valencia side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in six straight matches and have just two since the start of October. A big reason is the goalkeeping position, with Giorgi Mamardashvili having regressed before suffering an injury, and his replacement Stole Dimitrievski not performing much better.
Over 2.5 goals is the safer play, but at -140 odds, there’s much more to be gained here, and the last two games between these two teams have gone over this total, so there’s precedent for it as well.
Valencia vs. Real Madrid prop bet
Rodrygo has had a stop-start season, despite Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe also struggling for form and fitness at various points. Yet he finally seems to be turning a corner amidst Ancelotti’s new attacking mentality, having scored and assisted a goal in each of the last two league matches.
He’s also been strong against Valencia of late, with two goals and two assists in the last two league meetings between the clubs. The Brazilian is still third in the pecking order behind Mbappe and Vinicius, but given those two superstars have value-less odds, this is the play.
