David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Valencia
Espanyol
As part of the 33rd round of the Spanish Championship, a match between Valencia and Espanyol will take place at the Mestalla. I suggest betting on goals in this clash with a good chance of success.
Match preview
Last season, Los Che spent without the usual nerves and fight for survival — for the first time in a long time, the team from Mestalla could breathe easily. The result was 49 points and ninth place in the standings, which was a pleasant surprise for the fans. However, the first half of the new La Liga season did not go well for Valencia: Baraja failed to meet the objectives, and during the break, he was replaced by Corberan.
Carlos's appointment became a turning point — the team's play transformed dramatically. Under his leadership, Valencia improved on all fronts, began to stamp victories, and consistently added to their points tally. The brightest moment was the home victory over Real Madrid with a score of 2-1. However, amidst the successes, there were also setbacks — for example, a draw with Rayo Vallecano (1-1) in the last round, where they had to share points.
The Parakeets were relegated from the top division in 2023, but under the leadership of Manolo Gonzalez, they quickly ensured a return, successfully playing in the playoffs. The club understood perfectly that the main task for Espanyol would be to maintain their place in La Liga, and so far, the team is coping with this.
After 31 rounds, Espanyol has 38 points and occupies 13th place in the standings. The team is eight points clear of the relegation zone, and this gap was secured in the last three rounds, when the Parakeets defeated Rayo Vallecano (4-0), Celta (2-0), and Getafe (1-0) thanks to a goal from Marash Kumbulla.
Probable lineups
- Valencia: Mamardashvili - Gaya, Mosquera, Tarrega, Foulquier - Barrenetxea, Guerra, Diego Lopez, Andre Almeida, Rioja - Sadiq
- Espanyol: Garcia - Romero, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali - Lozano, U. Gonzalez, Puado, Exposito, Roca - Fernandez
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, the teams drew 1-1 in Barcelona
- The "Both teams to score" bet has won in the last five meetings between these teams
- The teams have drawn in their last four matches
Prediction
Bookmakers see Valencia as the favorite and offer odds of 1.75 for the home win. However, we are in for a match of direct competitors in the table, and Espanyol approaches the game with a series of three victories. Here, it's better to take "Total over 2.0" with odds of 1.62.
