Mestalla Showdown: Valencia Host Real Madrid in a Season of Struggles
8 February 2026
Valencia prepare to host Real Madrid on Sunday, hoping to show resilience in a season defined by disappointing results, leaving the club one point above the relegation zone.
Madrid's visits to Mestalla remain challenging; they have lost five of their last eleven trips there, with three wins and three draws.
According to Marca, this is Real Madrid's worst run at any La Liga venue since the 2014-2015 season.
Valencia have won two of the last six meetings with Madrid at Mestalla, the same number of wins they had in the prior twelve league encounters.
Arbeloa's Record
Álvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid's coach, has taken the field at Mestalla four times in La Liga for Madrid, winning all four, including a big five-goal first-half victory in 2013; his only Cup draw came in that period, and his last defeat there was in 2006 with Deportivo La Coruña.
Mestalla remains a fortress; despite Valencia's current woes, the stadium has not lost there this season in six consecutive home games, recording four wins and two draws — the best run in two years.
Punchline 1: If Mestalla is a fortress, Real Madrid might need a siege engine—and a reliable Wi‑Fi signal to stream the celebration.
Punchline 2: In football as in life, sometimes the ball finds the net; sometimes the net finds your shirt. Either way, Valencia fans are hoping for a miracle and maybe a churro at half-time.
