Valencia vs Atl. Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-09-15 14:15.
A tendency to slip up against newly promoted opponents (W2, D1, L3) partly contributed to Valencia’s near-relegation last La Liga (LL) season, and results so far in 2023/24 have been mixed, with a 1-0 loss away to Alavés coming two weeks after they were on the right end of the same scoreline when hosting Las Palmas. After failing to take full advantage of a fairly kind set of games to start the season, their next four matches following the international break could be fraught with danger.
That’s because three top-six finishers from 2022/23 are waiting for Valencia over the next four rounds, played over the space of 16 days. To their credit, Los Ches did secure three wins ‘to nil’ at home to top-six clubs last LL campaign, but Atlético Madrid were an exception (L 1-0), which is probably no surprise considering Valencia have not enjoyed a single victory in this match-up over the course of almost nine years (D6, L11).
Whispers emerged during the pause in competition that Atlético are opening negotiations to extend the contract of long-time manager Diego Simeone, who for years has been the subject of relentless speculation about his future at the club. There was no shortage of belief, confidence or skill in their 7-0 demolition of local rivals Rayo Vallecano earlier this month – the largest-ever LL away winning margin in the club’s history.
Simeone’s side consequently occupied fourth place in the standings during the international break despite having a game in hand on all other top-half clubs. Now that they appear to have exorcised the ghosts of failing to win four of their last five LL away trips at the end of last season (D2, L2), they look well placed to continue building positive momentum ahead of this month’s Madrid derby at home to Real.
Players to watch: Hugo Duro stands out both as Valencia’s last goalscorer in a LL home match and their most recent at any venue in this H2H match-up. Atlético’s first of six goalscorers in the rout over Rayo, Antoine Griezmann, also found the net in each of his last four games against Valencia.
Hot streak: Valencia’s last 12 LL matches were either drawn or decided by a one-goal margin.