Spanish La Liga
2017-01-15 - Valencia vs Espanyol
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Spanish Primera Division
Sunday 15th January 2017 - Kick Off 11am
Valencia
There are likely to be more protests at the direction Peter Lim is taking Valencia, a club that had been a regular name at the top of European football in recent years. The slide towards the Segunda Division was supposed to be arrested at the end of the last season, but Lim has continued to make poor decisions from afar and there is a clear discord between the owner and most of the hands on staff and fans at Valencia.
A late Osasuna goal on Monday means Valencia had to settle for a point, although that does mean they are now a point clear of Sporting Gijon in the bottom three. The poisonous atmosphere at home has contributed to the 1-2-4 record at the Mestalla which used to be one of the most difficult grounds to visit throughout Europe.
Valencia have won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions and the problems have been the amount of goals they have been conceding throughout the season. The side have won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions at home and Valencia have not won any of their last 4 League games here.
Espanyol
The current draw specialists in the Spanish top flight are Espanyol and that is partly the reason they have been unable to close the gap on the European places above them in the League table. Going out of the Copa Del Rey before Christmas means Espanyol only have the League to concentrate on through the next five months.
They are 11th in the League table and Espanyol are now 6 points off the top six places in the League which will be the cut off point for the European positions at this moment. Espanyol have earned more away wins than at home in the League and they bring in a 3-3-2 record on their travels into this weekend.
Espanyol have only won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions, but it should be noted that 4 of those have ended in draws and the single defeat was at Barcelona. The side had been unbeaten in 7 away games in all competitions before the 4-1 loss at the Nou Camp.
Head to Head
Both teams won their home League game against the other last season.
Valencia have a strong home record against Espanyol as they are unbeaten in 9 home games against them in all competitions and have won 8 of those games.
Prediction
The layers have set Valencia as the home favourite at odds on to win this game and I simply can't have that in their current vein of form as well as the poisonous atmosphere that is likely to be in the Stadium even in the early kick off.
They will create chances, but Valencia have been poor defensively and Espanyol have been difficult to beat away from home.
Take away the 4-1 loss at Barcelona, and Espanyol had been unbeaten in 7 away games since the opening weekend of the season. They were also leading here last season before two late goals helped Valencia turn that around, while the previous game had been 1-1 until the final five minutes when a penalty ensured the home team won.
If Espanyol can be a little more disciplined in the closing stages, they can avoid defeat here and I will back them to do so.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Valencia 2-2 Espanyol
