Real Madrid collapse coming as rookie keeper faces Valencia test | OneFootball

Valencia travel out to the Santiago Bernabéu for a traditional end-of-season La Liga game between Real Madrid. Pressure's at the door, expectation's at stratospheric heights, and there's simply no more room for slack. Madrid are on a red-hot winning streak, having three games in succession in their favor, and having Copa del Rey's final outing comfortably in their pocket already, but there's still ground to be made.

They're three off Barcelona and realize that if they lose this game, the title will be equally likely to go slipping from their grasp. Valencia, though, it's a match where they are poised between hope and despair. They're four points clear of relegation, four games unbeaten, but still anything but safe. It's the kind of fixture where both teams are being forced to face their demons.

The weight of playing at home with the standings breathing down your neck

Real Madrid plays at the Bernabéu, but they’re not just being watched by Valencia. All eyes in Spain are waiting to see if Ancelotti’s team stumbles, including Barcelona. The mission is simple: win, stay close, and put pressure on the rival. But there’s a catch. Madrid hasn’t strung together more than four consecutive league wins. That is enough to dent the morale of the crowd. Carlo Ancelotti knows that this is a testing time and went out of his way to boost the morale of the team: "We have to be positive and think we can do it. We're very close in all competitions and we're confident."

Real Madrid Training Session - Copa Del Rey | AFP7/GettyImages

Injuries, doubts, and a debut in the eye of the hurricane

Real Madrid's coming into this one with a hole in the most exposed area on the field: the goal. Courtois is recovering. Lunin is uncertain due to a calf injury. So in comes Fran González, a young goalkeeper who might be making his first-team debut in a game like this.

Ancelotti didn't flinch, he backed the kid: "I have total confidence in Fran.". He's a great goalkeeper. The only issue is that he's young, but one day his time will come."  The problem is, that day might be coming before he's ready. Placing a rookie in the goal, with the onus of keeping valuable points secure, is like asking him to headfirst plunge into a pool without knowing if there is water. He's got the guts, but the risk is huge.

Valencia arrives with their backs against the wall and past as a weight

Carlos Corberán's team knows they're underdogs in this one. And he's not trying to hide it. Playing Real Madrid at the Bernabéu is hard enough. Now add to that the reality that Valencia has not won there in 17 years. That's right, almost two decades of coming up short, getting dominated, or simply imploding under the pressure of the stadium. Even the coach admits it: "This club has not defeated Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in 17 years; that says how difficult it is." However, Corberán's trying to prod his team on with a strong message and the kind of determination that knows that a win today might flip the switch in their fight against relegation. Missing pieces on both sides and a game that'll try patience While Madrid comes doubting their goalie, Valencia's coming patched up. Foulquier, Gayà, and Rioja are suspended.

Jaime and Correia are injured. It's a puzzle with missing pieces, and they will have to find a way to hold together in mid-game. The plan is likely to be simple: close ranks, defend, make it through. Drawing a draw might not seem like much, but here it would be gold. That is why it all depends on the home side. Real Madrid have to win. They have to show that they are capable of winning games where the weight of being the favorite is greater than the ball itself.