Valencia vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-05-04 16:30.
[p]After back-to-back defeats, with the latest coming away against Barcelona, Valencia’s record now stands at just three wins in ten (D3, L4) and subsequently means they are in danger of making it five consecutive seasons in which they’ve failed to qualify for Europe. Rubén Baraja’s side have not suffered three straight defeats in La Liga since February 2023, and sat two points outside of the top seven with just five match rounds remaining, that record realistically needs to remain intact if they are to keep in touch with European chasers above them.[/p]
[p]Scoring goals has been the problem this term for Los Ches, highlighted by only netting 2+ goals in the league on ten occasions and failing to score at all in another ten. Given the fact that no team in the division has kept more home clean sheets than their nine, and that every team sat in the top ten in the table has netted more than their 37, it’s clear where Valencia’s problem lies.[/p]
[p]Promoted last season, Alavés could secure their safety this weekend after impressively scoring five goals without reply to win their last two games, including beating Atletico Madrid, to pull well clear of the drop zone. With Cádiz the only team who can mathematically catch them playing at Real Madrid this weekend, a point at Valencia could be all they need. [/p]
[p]Whether they can achieve even that at a venue where they’ve failed to win in nine H2H attempts in La Liga (D2, L7) remains to be seen, especially after failing to score in each of their last four away games this season, the last three of which ended in defeat (D1). Highlighting just how bad that run is, they have not had a longer scoreless run away from home in La Liga since May 2006.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Pepelu is a man in form having scored in each of the last two games, with all six of his goals this season coming from the penalty spot. Alavés’ Abdel Abqar has been booked in five of his last seven league appearances, with three of those in the final 20 minutes.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Valencia have had the joint-most penalties awarded in La Liga this season (7), while Alavés have conceded the second-most (9).[/p]