El Clásico decision good news for Zidane
The Real Madrid coach is currently without the servicies of the injured Modric, Bale, Kroos and Lucas Vázquez with a tricky away trip against Galatasaray looming.
The decision to postpone Saturday week's El Clásico will have been well received by Real Madrid head coach Zidane who currently has a gaping hole in his midfield with regulars Modric, Bale, Kroos and Lucas Vázquez currently out of action due to injury.
Whilst no-one can foresee how the Bernabéu injury bay will be come December when the game is now expected to be staged, a midfield missing Modric and Kroos was far from ideal for the French coach. The other central stalwart Casemiro is currently on a cumulative total of three yellow cards and will have to marshal the central area in the immediate games (away to Mallorca in LaLiga and Istanbul for Galatasaray in the Champions League).
Valencia away
The scheduling of the game on December 18th (as desired by both clubs) would see the Bernabeu side to have fulfilled all group stage games in the Champions League and the Camp Nou trip would be preceded by the always tricky visit to Mestalla to face Valencia the weekend before.
Staging the game on December 7 as proposed by LaLiga would see that game sandwiched by a trip to Alaves away with El Clásico the precursor to the final Group stage game in the Champions League with a trip to Club Brugge awaiting on December 11.