Valencia manager could field a five-man defence to stop Real Madrid in La Liga clash

Valencia manager could field a five-man defence to stop Real Madrid in La Liga clash Real Madrid are set to travel to Mestalla to face Valencia this weekend as they look to extend their winning streak to eight games. Jose Mourinho’s team are flying high on the confidence gained from their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over AEK Athens . Los Blancos have proved to be an unstoppable attacking unit in recent weeks following some tactical tweaks from Jose Mourinho. Now, according to AS , Valencia manager Javier Aguirre is testing a five-man defence in training in an attempt to stop Real Madrid. Aguirre prepares a defensive reshuffle The Mexican manager has tested a back line consisting of Pablo Maffeo, Arnau Martinez, Pepelu, Cesar Tarrega and Jose Gaya. Arnau is said to be operating as the right-sided centre-back, while Maffeo and Gaya would occupy the wing-back positions. Valencia could field a five-man backline to stop Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Aguirre had already experimented with pairing Maffeo and Arnau against Elche, but the former operated in a much more advanced role. Against Real Madrid, though, Aguirre’s side will look to be as compact as possible defensively and prevent Los Blancos ‘ attackers from thriving. The proposed system is also said to feature Guido Rodriguez, Javi Guerra and youngster Aaron Mayol in midfield, with Arnaut Danjuma partnering Umar Sadiq in attack. The Nigerian recently scored Valencia’s winner against Elche and could return to the starting line-up against Madrid. A potential challenge for Real Madrid Valencia are always a difficult team to face at Mestalla , and they have become significantly more solid since Aguirre took over. This weekend would mark Real Madrid’s final league visit to the stadium, with Valencia set to move to a new stadium next season. Jose Mourinho’s men will face a stern test against Valencia at the Mestalla. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Aguirre’s approach appears designed to restrict Madrid’s attacking space, particularly in wide areas, while maintaining three central defenders to deal with Kylian Mbappe. For Mourinho’s men, breaking down such a deep block would require creativity and the likes of Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham to find a way through. With Vinicius Jr. still unavailable through suspension, Mourinho should have no problem playing the Turkish international against Valencia. A five-man defence would provide a new kind of challenge for Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, and it remains to be seen how they fare this weekend.