Atletico Madrid v Valencia Betting Preview – La Liga 4th February 7.45pm
This will be huge showdown in La Liga on the weekend as second-placed Atletico Madrid take on third-placed Valencia. Atletico holds a six-point advantage so if they could win this one at home then it would go some way to them trying to secure second place in the league this season. Valencia will have to snap themselves out of a poor run of results to get themselves right back in the fight.
Atletico Madrid v Valencia Betting Tips
It has been another season of stern consistency from Atletico Madrid who have only been beaten once all term. That lone happened in a shock loss out at Espanyol just before the winter break. But they have come back strong with ten points collected from their four games since returning and it does all mean that they haven’t been beaten at home in the top flight this season, posting a W6 D4 record there. They have conceded only the four goals all season at home in their ten games, which means that they have a clean sheet in 60% of their home fixtures. It’s impressive stuff and Atletico Madrid to win to nil at Bet365 will be worth considering for the game at 7/5 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 1st, 2018 at 6:29 p.m.). Remarkably just two of their home games have gone over 2.5 goals so far this season in the Spanish top flight.
It is so hard for teams to break them down. 69% of the goals that Atletico Madrid have scored in the league this season have been in the second half of matches. What may give Valencia a glimmer of hope is that Sevilla recently won both legs of their Copa del Rey tie against Atletico. There was also a 0-0 played out between Altetico and Valencia in the Spanish top flight back in early September. That stopped a four-match losing streak that Valencia were on against Atletico Madrid. Still, Valencia have failed to score in any of their last three matches against them but that trend could well be bucked in this one as Valencia carry a good attacking threat. Antoine Griezmann top scorer for Atletico this season and five of his seven league goals have been at home.
Valencia went unbeaten right through to November 26th when they played out a 1-1 draw with Barcelona and they were looking well on song. It’s crumbled apart for them since the start of December where they have now gone W3 L5 in their last eight league games, losing their last two. After a surprising away defeat out at relegation-threatened Las Palmas, they misfired badly at home in a 4-1 reverse against Real Madrid last weekend. So that probably doesn’t put them in good stead for this one at all. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine league games now but they have scored in each of their last eight, and because they have averaged two goals per game on their travels this season it is worth looking at both teams to score at bet365 for the game for 10/11 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 1st, 2018 at 6:29 p.m.) even though they are facing a brilliant defense of Atletico. Valencia have not been losing on the road this season at half time and therefore it’s worth backing them to stick in there for a draw at the break.
Atletico Madrid v Valencia Betting Odds*
Atletico Madrid 9/20, Draw 16/5, Valencia 13/2* (Betting Odds taken on February 1st, 2018 at 6:29 p.m.)
Atletico Madrid v Valencia Predictions
Valencia have been wobblinb lately and that should hand a good advantage to Atletico Madrid. Atleti have once again been such an immensely strong home side that they are likely to find a way to grind through this and win it, probably by no more than a one-goal margin.
