Espanyol vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-12-17 20:30.
[p]Espanyol’s 0-0 draw against Osasuna last weekend snapped their two game losing run, but their failure to score for a third consecutive game in all competitions and escape La Liga’s relegation zone will be a concern. After the stalemate, manager Manolo González spoke of every remaining encounter this season, including the upcoming match against Valencia, being “life or death”, as they look to avoid an immediate return to the Segunda División.[/p]
[p]The Parakeets faithful may have high hopes for a positive result here, as their players have won all but one of their 14 points this term at the RCDE Stadium. Even their defensive concerns may have been partially addressed, as Espanyol kept their first home clean sheet of the season against Osasuna, and will now look to shut out Valencia for the first time in their last three meetings as hosts (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]That’s the longest H2H winless drought for Espanyol on home soil in this competition since 2006, which provides a tiny ray of hope for Valencia. Things are generally looking gloomy for the visitors though after a 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid last Friday kept them glued to the bottom of the table. Los Ches failed to make a one-man advantage count for more than 20 minutes, resulting in a third successive league loss that leaves them sweating over their status in La Liga, despite having two games in hand over most of their relegation rivals.[/p]
[p]A three-match unbeaten H2H run (D3) perhaps provides some relief for Valencia, but manager and club legend Rubén Baraja’s future in the dugout is reportedly under threat. His men are unlikely to do him any favours here either based on their away results in the current campaign, as they are one of three La Liga sides (including Espanyol) yet to win a league game on the road this season.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Javi Puado takes time to warm up as his last four goals have come between the 55th to 65th minutes, with the last three proving to be Espanyol’s final strike of the contest. By contrast, six of Hugo Duro’s last eight goals have come in first-half action and served as Valencia’s match opener, including two this term. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Valencia have conceded exactly one first-half goal in ten of their 15 league games this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]