Valencia vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-11-22 13:00.
[p]As the region continues to recover from last month’s catastrophic floods, Valencia will hope to provide something for supporters to smile about as they finally return to action. The horrific weather which ripped through the area caused the postponement of two league games, and means Los Ches have not played since late October, when they drew 1-1 at Getafe.[/p]
[p]The fact they are playing catch-up in terms of games, coupled with a miserable start to the campaign, means Rubén Baraja’s side come out of their enforced break at the foot of the La Liga table. A measly return of seven points from 11 outings (W1, D4, L6) had heaped the pressure on Baraja amidst an active five-match winless run (D3, L2), but their sole victory so far this season came before that on home soil at the Mestalla, beating Girona 2-0 in September.[/p]
[p]A look at the history books may temper any enthusiasm though, given opponents Real Betis have only lost one of the last nine H2Hs (W6, D2). The visitors also travel on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W4, D3), yet they’ve been far from convincing across that run, with only one of those wins decided by more than a single-goal margin.[/p]
[p]Manager Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping his side return refreshed as they continue to hunt down a place in the top-six. Los Verdiblancos head into this round just a point shy of that sitting in seventh place, but further progress could depend on an improvement on the road where they’ve won just once in eight league matches (D5, L2).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili may not be too excited at the prospect of facing Betis, against whom he has kept just one clean sheet in six attempts, conceding ten goals in the process (W1, D1, L4). Looking to continue the Georgian’s misery could well be Giovani Lo Celso, who has netted first or last in each of his four goalscoring appearances since joining Betis in the summer.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Valencia are the only team in La Liga yet to rescue a single point after conceding the opening goal this season (L3).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]