Las Palmas vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-02-09 20:00.
Despite playing against ten men for 69 minutes against relegation-threatened Granada last weekend, Las Palmas could only walk away with a 1-1 draw – a result which did little to help their unlikely European push. Boss García Pimienta peculiarly claimed afterwards that he was happy with the point, which is a strange claim given it was the only game in a four-match run to come against a side starting this round outside the top seven.
They fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Real Madrid to start that run, but with Valencia up next, a side they've won their last three La Liga home H2Hs against, perhaps last week’s point will look better come the close of play on Saturday. Yet the omens don’t appear great for making that four though, as the Yellows have won only one of their nine league games this term against sides starting the round above them in the table (D1, L7).
Something may have to give here, as Valencia themselves have a woeful away record this season against their fellow top-half sides (D1, L5). That string of poor results has almost certainly played its part in holding Los Ches back from pushing for the top-five, with a ten-point gap to fifth spot ahead of the round seemingly looking increasingly difficult to close.
But Valencia are certainly going about reducing the deficit the right way, with five wins from their last six La Liga games (L1), although their inability to keep a clean sheet on the road this season has undoubtedly held them back. In fact, their one league shutout on their travels this term is worse than all but two sides, with both those teams occupying places in the bottom three.
Players to watch: Pejiño was on target for Las Palmas last weekend, with four of his last five scoring appearances coming in games that ended level. Out for a fast start, Valencia’s Hugo Duro has scored in three of his last four La Liga outings, opening the scoring in all three.
Hot stat: Las Palmas are the only La Liga side yet to concede a first-half home league goal this season.