Atl. Madrid vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-01-20 17:30.
Whilst they cruise in second gear towards a potential 20th Copa del Rey (CdR) final appearance, AtlĂ©tico Madridâs La Liga (LL) journey is stalling as they cling to fourth place ahead of the round. A humiliating 1-1 draw away to AlmerĂa, the fifth time they failed to take all three points from their last six LL outings (W1, D2, L3), reignited rumours of long-serving manager Diego Simeoneâs potential departure in the coming weeks.
AtlĂ©tico have never sat outside of the top four at the halfway point of a full LL season (19 rounds) since Simeone began his first pre-season in charge of the club however, so it would be unexpected if the decorated tactician shied away in these troubling times. Whilst he cannot take upcoming opponent Real Valladolid for granted after recently stumbling against other bottom-half clubs AlmerĂa and Espanyol (D 1-1), Simeone believes he still has the recipe for success: âWe have to keep looking to play the way we are doing. The goals will come. They often come in waves.â
Despite the rare vulnerability of their opponents, Valladolid appear in no shape whatsoever to end a 14-year drought against AtlĂ©tico (D1, L11) after a fourth-conclusive loss âto nilâ added further humiliation to their CdR elimination against AlavĂ©s in which they also couldnât score. It appears the visitors are destined for a fourth bottom-half finish in five seasons, though survival will likely be their main objective this campaign.
H2H history might be the last thing on the mind of embattled boss Pacheta then, who may be buoyed by an emphatic endorsement of his position at the club by the Director of the Presidentâs office during the week. âPacheta's continuity is non-negotiable,â declared David Espinar ahead of Valladolidâs attempt to score on the road for the first time in five LL games (L4).
Players to watch: The departure of JoĂŁo FĂ©lix to Chelsea leaves Ălvaro Morata as the only player to have scored in two of AtlĂ©ticoâs last four LL home fixtures, whilst Valladolid midfielder Ăscar Plano opened the scoring the last time these sides met.
Hot stat: All but one of the last nine LL matches involving either club produced two or fewer total goals.