Valencia – Valladolid : Preview & Prediction
Valencia’s visit to Elche, practically condemned to relegation, came at just the right time for Los Ches, who won 2-0 to draw level on 30 points with Almeria, who are in the relegation zone at the start of Matchday 31. Although the team from the capital of the Turia remains in the relegation zone due to the particular goal difference from their matches against Almeria, the victory over Elche ended a streak of eight away defeats for Ruben Baraja’s team, who after his first win and clean sheet away from home as coach of the Blue and Whites, sent a message to his players to stay firm in their fight for salvation: “We have not done anything, just break a bad streak”.
“We can’t value any other requirement than beating Real Valladolid in the next home game,” Baraja declared before the important clash against the Pucela, one of the eight winning teams in Valencia’s aforementioned disastrous run away from Mestalla (Valladolid 1-0 Valencia). The che side return home, where they have won six of their eight wins in the current championship, but their home record against clubs in the bottom half of the table before this matchday (G3, E2, P2) makes it clear that no opponent can be underestimated.
While Valladolid can’t get carried away, two consecutive wins against teams higher up the table (2-1 vs Villarreal away, 1-0 vs Girona at home) have lifted the Blanquivioletas from 17th to 14th place, five points ahead of Valencia. In just three games under Paulo Pezzolano, Valladolid has collected more points (seven) than in the last seven under Pacheta (five).
This is the second time Valladolid has gone three games without defeat this season, and one of the matches of the first hat-trick of games without a point was the match against Valencia in the first half of the season. Having won just once away to teams in the bottom half of the standings (G1, E2, P3), the Pucelan squad cannot afford to become complacent despite their remarkable recovery.
Players to watch: If Samu Castillejo is out for this match, striker Edinson Cavani would be one of two available ches players to have found the net in more than one LL match at Mestalla this season. Watch out for Valladolid midfielder Monchu (23), who has scored in two of his last three appearances.
Series highlight: Each of Valladolid’s last seven LL wins has come by the narrowest of margins. Sufferer.
Valencia – Valladolid : Betting Tips
Valencia – Win Odds: 1.75
