Valencia vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-12-21 13:00.
[p]Valencia are at risk of getting cut adrift at the foot of the La Liga table, but their under pressure manager Rubén Baraja is refusing to shy away from his principles. The boss declared that it is time to “insist and persist” with their playing style after a 1-1 stalemate with Espanyol on Wednesday, a result that leaves the club bottom of the league and five points from safety ahead of this round.[/p]
[p]That may frustrate nervous fans, who will be worried that their side might be about to drop out of the top-flight for the first time since the 1980s. A run of four games without a win in the league (D1, L3) will have done little to alleviate any fears, but a return to the Mestalla might provide Los Ches with some hope, given eight of their 11 points have been accumulated on home soil (W2, D2, L3), with both wins coming against sides starting the round in the top-half.[/p]
[p]Looking to pile on the misery will be fellow strugglers Alavés, who themselves enter this round dangling precariously close to the relegation zone. A 1-1 draw against Athletic Club last time out means the Blue and Whites have won just one of their last 11 league fixtures (D3, L7), leaving them only one point above the danger zone.[/p]
[p]Being involved in a fight for survival is nothing new for a club who have finished 16th or lower in three of their last four completed seasons in La Liga. Eduardo Coudet has been drafted in to try and extend their two-year stint in the division, and he’ll be confident of extending his unbeaten start (D3) against a side Alavés have beaten in three successive H2Hs.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Diego López’s strike for Valencia on Wednesday means he has lost just one of the last ten games in which he has scored (W4, D5). Attacking down the wing for Alavés could be Carlos Vicente, who has seen his last five goals serve as the first or last of the game, but only one of them came on the road.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: There have been 3+ total goals in seven of Alavés’ nine away league games this season.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]