Espanyol vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-16 20:00.
[p]While a clash between 18th and 19th in La Liga perhaps isnât the most eye-catching fixture this gameweek, Espanyolâs game with Valladolid arguably has the most at stake. Thatâs particularly true for an Espanyol side whoâve only won one of their last ten La Liga games (D3, L6), a run which has seen them drop from the relative safety of mid-table into the bottom three.[/p]
[p]With just four wins from 19 La Liga games this term (D4, L11), Espanyol will know their form needs to improve to beat the drop, but they ought to be optimistic of that happening here as all four of those wins came at the RCDE Stadium. Based solely on home form the Parakeets are a top-half side (W4, D3, L3), and a fifth such win could be around the corner given theyâve won five of the last six home H2Hs (L1).[/p]
[p]Of La Ligaâs bottom five, Valladolid are the only side to have won two of their last five league games, so it could be argued theyâre the most âin-formâ side down in those lower reaches. Both of those wins came at home though, so hitting the road, where theyâve lost eight of their nine La Liga games this season (W1), promises to be a stern test of their credentials. [/p]
[p]Only Espanyol themselves (one) have claimed fewer away points in the Spanish top-flight this season, and conceding the opening goal hasnât helped Valladolid, as they have fallen 1-0 behind in all nine away league games this term. There appears a solid chance that record will improve this weekend as they managed a clean sheet in their two prior H2Hs against Manolo GonzĂĄlez-managed sides (W1, D1), which were actually the last two meetings between the teams, including when Valladolid won the reverse fixture 1-0 this season. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Antoniu Roca has been something of a negative omen for Espanyol this season as theyâve won just one of his nine appearances (D3, L5). Kike PĂ©rez struck Valladolidâs winner against Betis last weekend – none of his four goals this term arrived before the 55th minute. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Valladolid have failed to score before half-time in 15 of their 19 league games this term.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]