Preview: Real Valladolid vs. Valencia – prediction, team news, lineups

The bottom two i La Liga table will lock horns for a vital contest Friday night, with Real Valladolid accommodating Valencia to Estadio Jose Zorrilla.

Real Valladolid have picked up just nine points from their 16 league games this season, leaving them rock bottom on nine points, while Valencia are in 19th place having collected just 10 points from their first 14 games.

Match preview

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Alvaro Rubio remains in charge of Real Valladolid on an interim basis following the exit of Paulo Pezzolanoand he will be in charge of the team for the third time on Friday night, but a permanent replacement for the recently departed head coach could be appointed over the weekend.

Diego Cocawho was last in charge of Mexico in 2023, will reportedly pen a deal until the end of the campaign and the 52-year-old faces a tough task when it comes to keeping the White and Violets in the division.

The promoted outfit have a record of two wins, three draws and 11 defeats from their 16 league games this season, which has left them bottom of the table on nine points, six points from safety in 17th place.

Real Valladolid comfortably have the worst defensive record in La Liga this season, conceding 34 times in their 16 games, and they come into this match on the back of another defeat, going down 2-1 to Las Palmas last weekend.

Pucela actually beat Valencia 1-0 in the corresponding fixture during the 2022-23 La Liga campaign, so they will aim to make it successive home wins over Los Che when the sides lock horns on Friday.

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Valencia, meanwhile, go into the match on the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano, with the result leaving them 19th in the table on 10 points, and they have won just twice in Spain’s top flight this term.

Los Che have two games left at Real Valladolid, while they also have two to spare at 17th-placed Leganes, who are five points clear, so it’s not quite time to hit the panic button, but it’s been a tough start to the campaign .

Ruben Baraja‘s side have struggled for goals and scored just 13 times, the second-worst record in the division behind Getafe and Real Valladolid (both 11), suggesting this will be a low-scoring affair.

Valencia’s away form has also been disappointing, picking up just two points from seven games, but Real Valladolid have only managed to win one of their eight games in front of their own fans this term.

The six-time Spanish champions finished ninth last term and a top-half finish could still be achievable this season given their squad, but Barajas’ side desperately need to find consistency.

Real Valladolid La Liga form:

Real Valladolid form (all competitions):

Valencia La Liga form:

Valencia form (all competitions):

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Real Valladolid will again be without the services of Selim Amallah due to a muscle problem, while Kennedy and Raul Moro is unlikely to be involved due to muscle problems.

The home team will also have to work around the absence of Era Comertwith the centre-back suspended for the landmark yellow card he picked up in the defeat to Las Palmas.

Juma Bah should benefit from returning to the center of defense, but Marcos Andre is set to retain his place in the final third of the field, with number nine on the scoresheet last time out.

Regarding Valencia, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jose Gaya, Dimitri Foulquier, Maximiliano Caufriez, Ruben Iranzo, Thierry Correia and Mouctar Diakhaby are all unavailable for selection due to injury.

Jesus Vazquez expected to take advantage of Gaya’s injury to feature as a left-sided wing-back, while Pepelu is also set to return to the page which could see Javi Guerra move out into a large area.

Hugo Duro has four goals in La Liga this season and will lead the league again, with Rafa Mir, Sergi Canos and Andrew Almeida set to be the attacking options in reserve on Friday night.

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; L Perez, Bah, J Sanchez, Rosa; I Sanchez, Martin, Juric, K Perez, Sylla; Other

Valencia possible starting line-up:
Dimitrievsky; D Lopez, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Vazquez; Rioja, Barrenechea, Pepelu, Guerra; Duro

We say: Real Valladolid 0-1 Valencia

Both of these sides are in desperate need of a win and we’re backing Valencia to secure a huge three points on Friday night. Real Valladolid have scored just five times in their eight home league games this term and we can see Los Che navigating their way to victory at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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