Valencia vs Atl. Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-02-21 17:30.
[p]The stakes could hardly be higher as Valencia host AtlĂ©tico Madrid with the Bats sitting inside the relegation zone and Diego Simeone’s AtlĂ©tico side fighting for their first La Liga title since 2020/21. Valencia’s fall from grace couldn’t be starker as a match against the Madrid giants has historically been a top-half battle, but for now the side must avoid relegation for the first time since 1985/86 – their only ever demotion![/p]
[p]There’s light at the end of the tunnel as they’ve had a turnaround in fortunes since appointing Carlos Corberán, with the coach losing just two of his seven league games in charge (W3, D2). He has also led his Valencia side to three straight home wins and can now steer them to four on the trot at home for the first time since August 2021![/p]
[p]Perhaps title nerves are starting to get the better of Atlético, who missed their chance to top the table last week when drawing 1-1 at home to Celta Vigo. After eight consecutive wins between last November and January 2025, Simeone’s team have since dropped points in four of their last five league outings (W1, D3, L1). [/p]
[p]Their Argentine coach might remember Valencia hammering his side 3-0 last season, but they’ve never lost back-to-back La Liga games away to Valencia in his era, a record he’ll need to preserve here if his side are to maintain their serious ambitions to win the title. That title race might go all the way, with this just the third time in the 20-team La Liga era (since 1987/88) that three leaders have been separated by just one point after matchday 24 – AtlĂ©tico won the title on one of the other occasions! [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nominated for La Liga’s U23 player of the month for February, Valencia’s Javi Guerra has two goal contributions from his last three La Liga outings (G1, A1) – he also netted in last season’s La Liga H2H victory here. AtlĂ©tico’s Antoine Griezmann has scored more La Liga goals (13) against Valencia than any other side in the competition. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: No side in Europe’s top five leagues had won more points from losing positions than Atlético’s 17 prior to this round. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]