Atletico Madrid vs Valencia
22 January 2000hrs
Football – Spain – La Liga
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Coral
Odds: 21/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 20 January
Atletico Madrid meet Valencia on Saturday evening and it is all about the race for top four, with the visitors able to go a point behind their opponents if they can get a win.
Table of Contents
Atletico Madrid Preview – Can Atleti get back to winning ways after consecutive defeats in cup competitions?
They may have a game in hand over leaders and rivals Real Madrid, but it is looking increasingly unlikely – almost impossible – that Atletico are going to retain the league title. The champions are 16 points behind and in truth, only in a battle for a top four spot along with a host of other clubs, including their next opponents. Diego Simeone’s men come into this game on the back of disappointing defeats to Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup and away to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey.
It leaves them with a battle on their hands to guarantee Champions League qualification via the league and and going as far in Europe as they possibly can this season.
Where Atletico have been strong is at home. The surprise defeat against Mallorca is their only home loss this season, and taking it back further, the only time they have not taken points in their last 16 league matches at the Wanda Metropolitano. They have won 11 of those games during that run.
Overall, and in all competitions, Atleti have lost six of their last 10. It is a run of form we just don’t associate with a Simeone team. Neither is their defensive record – it’s only one clean sheet in seven league games, and you feel that is the biggest issue facing them in the short-term.
Valencia Preview – Are Valencia capable of showcasing their top four credentials with a win against the current champions?
Valencia knew coming into 2022 that they were due to face four of the current of the current top five in their first four matches of the calendar year in La Liga. A defeat to leaders Real was not unexpected but frustrating with some decisions that went against them. A hard-fought draw against Sevilla in midweek has given them further belief and they head into Saturday’s game knowing that any further points gained would put them in with a realistic chance of finishing in the top four.
As things stand, Valencia are ninth but are only four points behind Atleti in fourth, albeit they have played a game more. A win here would put them in a strong position to challenge in the remaining games.
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For all the incentives and the positivity following Wednesday’s draw against second place Sevilla, the fact remains that Valencia are still searching for a first win in La Liga in 2022. They did progress to the next round of the Copa del Rey with a narrow win over lower league opposition last weekend, however.
Valencia will host Real Sociedad in their next league match at the beginning of February and that too will shape their objectives from here on out.
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Betting Advice
Both of these teams have prospects of European football next season, of which they hope it will be the Champions League, but in order to do that they need to get back to winning ways otherwise they give the other contenders a chance to gain an advantage.
Valencia have a terrible recent record in this fixture. Their last win was back in 2014 whilst their last win in an away league fixture against Atletico Madrid was in 2011. It tends to be a game which features goals.
Key Facts – Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Betting Tip
- Atletico Madrid have lost just one of their last 16 at home (11 wins in that time)
- Valencia’s last seven games have seen both teams finding the net
- There have been 23 goals between the two teams in the last six meetings
Six of the last seven have seen both teams scoring and there have been 25 goals in total across those games. With Atletico looking a lot more vulnerable at the back and all of Valencia’s last seven league games seen both teams scoring, that looks a good option in this one.
Best Betting Odds for Atletico Madrid vs Valencia
