Mestalla: Real Madrid's House of Horrors in the Last Decade
The Santiago Bernabéu might be a fortress for Real Madrid, but Mestalla has been their kryptonite with Los Blancos losing five of their last 11 visits to Valencia's home ground.
Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium has proven to be Real Madrid’s bogey ground over the past decade, with the Spanish giants struggling more there than at any other venue in La Liga.
Real’s Mestalla Misery
The numbers don’t lie, and they paint a proper horror show for Los Blancos when they travel to Valencia:
- Real Madrid have lost five of their last 11 visits to Mestalla
- That’s more defeats than at any other stadium in La Liga since the 2014-15 season
- They’ve managed just three wins and three draws during this period
- Overall, Valencia have won two of the last six meetings between the clubs
Even as Valencia have fallen from their glory days of challenging for titles to now battling relegation (they currently sit just one point above the drop zone), Mestalla has remained their sanctuary when facing the capital club.
Pre-match Mind Games
The build-up to Sunday’s clash has seen some tasty verbal sparring. Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa suggested that teams like Valencia save their best performances for games against his side, claiming “Valencia will play their game of the year at home against Real Madrid.”
Valencia gaffer Corberán wasn’t having any of that, responding: “Every game we play should be the game of the year and that’s how we experience it.”
Interestingly, Arbeloa’s personal record at Mestalla as a player tells a different story - he won all four matches he played there in a Madrid shirt, including one absolute demolition job that saw Madrid 5-0 up by half-time back in 2013. Different times, those.
Home Comfort for Valencia
Despite their struggles this season, Valencia are currently enjoying their best home run in two years - six matches unbeaten at Mestalla with four wins and two draws. It’s this kind of home form that’s keeping their heads above water in what’s turning into another season of struggle.
With tough away trips to relegation rivals Levante and high-flying Villarreal on the horizon, Valencia will be desperate to maintain their Mestalla magic against the league leaders and put some daylight between themselves and the drop zone.
For Madrid, it’s another chance to break their Mestalla curse. But history suggests they’ll need to be at their absolute diamond best to avoid another Valencia banana skin.