Perez purchase can help Valencia to stop rot in Real Mestalla matches

Real Madrid have won at Valencia’s Mestalla ground in La Liga action for five straight years.

As Los Blancos lead the Spanish top flight with a game in hand and are on a record run of 22 successive victories as well, Coral make them strong odds-on 4/7 favourites to take three points in their first competitive outing since the winter break.

It seems divinely named Los Che coach Nuno Espirito Santo has a plan to try and turn the tide of recent history in this fixture, however. Backed by Singapore businessman Peter Lim’s billions, the Bats have splashed a reported €25m on midfielder Enzo Perez, who played for Argentina in the World Cup final last simmer.

Valencia, who trail the visitors by eight points in the table, are 4/1 outsiders to slay Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who were crowned the best club on the planet before Christmas. A draw, meanwhile, is a tasty 10/3.

Bought from Benfica across Iberia, the Perez purchase continues a rich recent tradition of Los Che having Argentina internationals on display in their engine room.

While Perez, 9/2 for a debut goal anytime against Real, may not be a number 10 like Pablo Aimar or a playmaker in the Ever Banega mould, his qualities as an all-action operator should see him slot into Valencia’s spine ahead of compatriot Nicolas Otamendi nicely.

The role envisaged for Perez here will be something similar to how Jorge Jesus used him at the Stadium of Light (Lisbon not Sunderland!). Perez has to help out a genuine holding player alongside him in stopping the supply to Madrid’s magnificent and expensively assembled Galacticos, but also break forward and start counter-attacks when the visitors commit bodies.

If Valencia need any more reason to stop the ball getting to Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, then they should read these scary stats.

Wales winger and most expensive player of all-time Bale netted in four successive matches across all competitions before the winter break. He is a 6/5 anytime chance to net for a fifth game running, and break his duck against Los Che at the third attempt.