Almeria vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-04-08 16:30.
Following a winless March, La Liga (LL) newcomers AlmerĂa will engage in a clichĂ©d âsix pointâ battle with fellow relegation candidates Valencia. Itâs an assignment which takes on critical importance when considering their subsequent opponents in April include games against top six contenders AtlĂ©tico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid.
Manager Rubi lamented the two first half equalisers they conceded in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo that left them without a half-time lead, something that appears to be crucial to their fortunes. Considering no club has âwonâ fewer second halves this LL season than AlmerĂaâs three, the first 45 minutes may determine whether the hosts can secure three points which would move them towards the top end of a relegation logjam.
Level with AlmerĂa on 27 points in what remains their worst LL campaign in the three-points-for-a-win era, Valencia have already collected more points in six games under new manager RubĂ©n Baraja (W2, D1, L3) than in the prior 12 matches during the tenures of Voro and Gennaro Gattuso (W1, D3, L8) following last roundâs 1-1 home draw with Vallecano, so the club can perhaps declare with conviction that theyâre heading in the right direction.
Baraja certainly believes so too, telling the media after their last outing that âat other times this season, we would not have been able to tie the gameâ. Thereâs one area where the new boss has not yet been able to improve though, and thatâs their poor travelling form, with Valencia starting this round with the leagueâs longest active streak of away losses âto nilâ (L6), three of which Baraja oversaw.
Players to watch: After collecting his seventh booking of the LL season, LĂ©o BaptistĂŁo is finding himself in the refereeâs notebook more often than on the scoresheet, but given his three goals all came in home wins, he could balance the ledger here. Similarly, Hugo Duro has picked up three cards in his last six LL starts, yet Valencia have won on all three occasions he has scored or assisted this season.
Hot streak: The visiting side of the day has not won any of Rubiâs eight personal meetings with Valencia (D3, L5).