Valencia vs Espanyol prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-04-21 17:00.
[p]La Liga’s mid-table is so compact that Valencia and Espanyol are both still within striking distance of the European placings despite being in the bottom half. Valencia stretched their unbeaten run to seven games (W4, D3) with a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, but boss Carlos Corberán remains focused on mathematically securing survival, rather than taking aim at Europe.[/p]
[p]If they can extend their three-game winning streak at home, Los Ches’ remote chances can continue to flicker. Valencia will be out to complete a trio of home wins against the promoted clubs after beating Leganés (2-0) and Valladolid (2-1), but they are likely to find this a tougher assignment, not just based on Espanyol’s superior position but also their inability to win any of the last five H2Hs (D4, L1). [/p]
[p]Espanyol’s relegation fears have eased significantly in recent weeks, as they’re the only side in La Liga to have won all of their last three matches. All of those victories were accompanied by a clean sheet and came against higher-ranked opposition, so the Parakeets will be targeting their first set of four successive top-flight wins since May 2009![/p]
[p]Having failed to win any of their first 11 La Liga road games this term (D2, L9), Espanyol have won three of their last four away matches in the competition (L1). That includes successive wins by multi-goal margins against Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano, but building on that looks tricky given that they’ve won just one of their last 15 trips to the Mestalla (D3, L11).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Diego López scored the equaliser in December’s reverse fixture (D 1-1), and assisted the winner in Valencia’s last home outing against Sevilla (1-0). Javi Puado opened the scoring in that reverse H2H, and should return from a yellow card suspension raring to go after directly contributing to four goals in three matches previously (G2, A2).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Each of the last four H2Hs finished either 1-1 or 2-2.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]