Image Source: Getty Images
2025-26 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 23
Valencia v Real Madrid
Estadio de Mestalla
Valencia, Spain
Sunday, 8 February 2026
Kick-off is at 21h00
Real Madrid will be looking to keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona when they travel to the eastern coast of Spain for a clash with Valencia at the Mestalla in the late kick-off on Sunday, February 8.
Los Blancos are the in-form team in the Spanish top flight after winning their last six games on the spin to put them neck-and-neck with arch-rivals Barca in the title race.
Alvaro Arbeloa's side had to dig deep to beat Rayo Vallecano in a local derby on February 1, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time to clinch a 2-1 win.
Real, who have the second-best defensive record in the league behind neighbours Atletico Madrid, trail the Blaugrana by just one point in second place.
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Los Ches are still very much involved in a relegation dogfight despite winning two of their last three matches and picking up seven points in the process.
However, a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis on February 1 saw them drop back down to 15th spot, just two points above Real Mallorca (18th), who still had to play Sevilla on August 2.
Carlos Corberan's side will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 4-0 thrashing they received in the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu on November 1.
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Arbeloa is relishing the opportunity to work with his players on the training pitch over the next fortnight as he looks to get everyone in the team on the same wave-length.
"To win, you need to do many small things well. It's not enough to excel in just one, and obviously, we need to work on all phases of the game - improving with and without the ball and having clear ideas," he said.
"I often remind the players that an ideal team is one where everyone thinks the same way in any situation and moment. To be able to do that, you need to work and spend hours on the training field. Fortunately, that's what we'll have over the next two weeks."
Head-to-Head (Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Valencia wins - 1
Real Madrid wins - 3
Draws - 1
La Liga Matchday 23 fixtures:
Friday, February 6
21h00: Celta Vigo v Osasuna
Saturday, February 7
14h00: Rayo Vallecano v Real Oviedo
16h15: Barcelona v Real Mallorca
18h30: Sevilla v Girona
21h00: Real Sociedad v Elche
Sunday, February 8
14h00: Alaves v Getafe
16h15: Athletic Bilbao v Levante
18h30: Atletico Madrid v Real Betis
21h00: Valencia v Real Madrid
Monday, February 9
21h00: Villarreal v Espanyol
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