Stoke v Valencia Europa League betting is one not to be forgotten about, as the spotlight falls on Man City and Man Utd in their Europa League adventures. But Stoke have done marvellously to get to the knockout stage, really taking the imitative in their home matches in the group. But the test will get seriously harder now as they host Valencia in the first leg of their round of 32 tie. Tony Pulis has done a great job with the Potters, but the wheels have come off their Premier League form after a purple patch of four straight wins at the end of November and into December. Since December 17th, Stoke have won just one of their next nine league matches, and with four straight defeats on the bounce, and with the goals having really dried up (just four in their last six EPL games), Stoke are in a bit of desperate slump at the moment. So perhaps a fixture away in the Europa League will be just the ticket to get their minds off things. Stoke qualified safely from Group E in second place behind Besiktas, with three wins, two draws and one defeat. Stoke went two and drew one of those matches at the Britannia Stadium, making it a bit of a fortress for opposition. Stoke v Valencia Europa League betting granted will see the English side go as underdogs against the more experienced Valencia, who dropped out of the Champions League, but if the Potters can secure a battling win in the first leg, taking advantage of home turf, then they are the type of side who could grind out a gritty away win. But the key to this will be all about keeping Valencia off the score sheet on Thursday night. Stoke actually are undefeated in all seven of their European home fixtures, and this is the first time they have been in the knockout stage of European competition. A defeat against Besiktas on Match Day six saw Stoke end an eleven match European unbeaten streak. Stoke v Valencia Europa League betting will be a war of attrition for the English side, and there is a glimmer of hope for them when you look at their oppositions’ European record against English sides.
Stoke City v Valencia Europa League betting odds
Stoke to win: 2/1 at Bet Victor
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
Valencia to win: 13/8 at William Hill
Online bookmaker Ladbrokes have a Stoke v Valencia Europa League betting promotion running for Thursday night’s match. If Stoke forward Peter Crouch scores in the match at anytime, then Ladbrokes will refund all losing First Goalscorer bets placed on the match. So there is a nice bit of Stoke v Valencia Europa League First Goalscorer betting coverage from the popular bookie. What’s on offer in the market? Well Valencia’s Roberto Soldado is favourite at 11/2, with Aritz Aduriz just behind at 13/2. Stoke’s Peter Crouch and Jon Walters are at 6/1 to open the scoring. Online bookmaker Ladbrokes offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £50, giving you some great free betting cash to enjoy.
Valencia have already been to England in Europe this season, losing 3-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the Champions League group stage. Their third place finish in the group sent the Spaniards down to the Europa League and their away form in England is pretty terrible. Out of fifteen matches in England, Valencia have won just once, and they haven’t recorded a victory against an English side anywhere in their last eight meetings again one. They have suffered four defeats and four draws again English opposition in their last eight matches. Coach Unai Emery hasn’t triumphed over English opposition in four attempts now. There is more news here in Valencia’s form which may give Potters fans even more hope of a big result. Valencia haven’t scored a victory in their last six away matches in Europe, splitting those six matches evenly between draws and defeats. They are a strong side though, yet just can’t get it together in Europe for some reason at the moment. The Spaniards are third in La Liga, eight points behind second placed Barcelona, and with a win on the weekend against Sporting Gijon, they broke a run of five domestic matches without a win. Striker Soldado will have to be watched out for because of his finishing power, and while Valencia will be fancied more to come in and do a smash and grab raid, they aren’t in the greatest form themselves and that should give Stoke a glimmer of hope. Stoke really could use Peter Crouch to their advantage against the Spanish back line, but Crouch hasn’t scored in his five matches against Spanish opposition. Stoke v Valencia Europa League betting would be a good time to start. This is the first time the two sides have met.
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