No Ronaldo or Ramos, but Madrid have depth for home debut

MADRID, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — Real Madrid make their home debut in the Spanish Liga Santander on Sunday night when Zinedine Zidane’s side entertains Valencia.

Madrid go into the game with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos out through suspension and with youngster Jesus Vallejo suspended, thus Rafael Varane, who had a slight muscle problem during the week, and Nacho Fernandez will form Madrid’s central defensive pairing.

Zidane looks likely to continue with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack, but he must decide whether Marcos Asensio or Isco partners Luka Modric, Casemiro and Tony Kroos in midfield.

Whoever of the two misses out can count themselves unlucky, but it is a measure of Madrid’s strength in depth that players such as Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovacic, Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos will also be on the subs’ bench.

Valencia travel to the Bernabeu with a new coach in Marcelino Garcia, who appears to have drilled more discipline and effort into his side, as shown by last week’s 1-0 win at home to Las Palmas.

New faces may be at a premium in Valencia, but last season the squad underperformed and in players such as Simone Zaza and Carles Soler, they had examples of both spirit and talent which promises better times this season.

It may be a big ask for Valencia to conquer the Santiago Bernabeu, but expect them to put up stiffer resistance than the majority of sides who play there, although it does look as if Madrid’s extraordinary strength in depth will be enough to see them home.