Real Madrid travel to Valencia on Saturday knowing a win will provisionally lift them level with La Liga leaders Barcelona. Kick-off at the Mestalla Stadium is at 9pm local time (20:00 GMT), Al Jazeera reported. Madrid are third, three points off the top. Barcelona play second-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Mourinho's side have wobbled at times this season but have won their last seven games in all competitions. That run includes four league wins and an El Clasico victory over Barca, all since a 2-1 defeat to Atletico in September. Valencia are second bottom, with just nine points from 11 games. The Opta supercomputer gives Madrid a 70.4 percent chance of winning, Valencia 12.7 percent and a draw 16.9 percent.
Jude Bellingham arrives in form. He scored a back-heeled goal on Wednesday as Madrid came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3-2 in the Champions League. He was named player of the match. At 23 years and 128 days, he also became the youngest player to reach 60 Champions League appearances, overtaking former Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Mourinho said there was no midfielder in world football like Bellingham, calling him "an absolutely extraordinary player".
Valencia needed last weekend's win over Elche, which came from a second-half goal by Nigerian substitute Sadiq. Coach Javier Aguirre said his side could not afford to be cut adrift after three games without a win. He said the team needs no extra motivation to face "one of the best sides in the world". Premium Times reported that Aguirre praised Sadiq at Friday's press conference. He called the striker "a special player" and highlighted his character and football intelligence.
Mourinho called the trip one of the toughest matches in the Spanish league. He said Aguirre has great experience and a clear philosophy. Madrid won 2-0 at Valencia in February, with second-half goals from Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe.
Madrid are without Rodrygo, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy through injury. Vinicius Junior serves the final game of a domestic suspension. Valencia are missing Sergi Canos, Diego Lopez and David Otorbi, while Jose Manuel Copete is a doubt with a knee problem. Loanee Harvey Elliott returns from suspension. Sadiq has recovered from a hamstring injury and is likely to start.