Espanyol will host Valencia at home on December 18 in the 2024/2025 La Liga season. This is a vital match for both teams, as they are located in the lower region of the table and urgently need points to avoid relegation.
Team Position and Form
Espanyol are currently in 18th place with 14 points, while Valencia are trailing with 10. The home team drew 0-0 with Osasuna in their last match, showing some stability in their defense. Valencia, on the other hand, have suffered three consecutive defeats, most recently losing 1-0 to Real Valladolid, despite having 671.4 possession.
Personal Questions and Expected Starting Teams
Espanyol:
The positive for the home team is that Omar El Hilali and Jofre Carreras can return to the team, but Pol Lozano cannot play due to suspension. Irvin Cardona's performance is also questionable, as he is struggling with an injury. The expected starting line-up could be as follows: Joan Garcia – Omar El Hilali, Marash Kumbulla, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero – Alvaro Tejero, Alex Kral – Jofre Carreras, Javier Puado, Justin Smith – Walid Cheddira.
Valencia:
The visitors are facing a number of serious absences. José Luis Gayà, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Rafa Mir are unavailable due to injury, while Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia are also out. Head coach Rubén Baraja is expected to field the following starting line-up: Stole Dimitrievski – Cristhian Mosquera, César Tárrega, Yarek Gasiorowski, Dimitri Foulquier – Luis Rioja, Javier Guerra, Pepelu, André Almeida – Diego López, Hugo Duro.
Tactical Analysis and Key Points
Espanyol:
A win is vital for head coach Manolo González to move out of the relegation zone. The team's defense has been improving recently, as evidenced by the goalless draw against Osasuna. Up front, they can rely on the creativity of Javier Puado and Jofre Carreras, while Alex Kral can bring stability in midfield.
Valencia:
Injuries are a major challenge for Valencia, especially in defence and goalkeeping. Rubén Baraja is likely to prefer a 4-4-2 formation, with André Almeida playing a key role in organising the attacks. The team will need to improve their positional awareness, as they had more possession but were unable to create many dangerous chances against Real Valladolid.
Past Meetings and Statistics
The last three Espanyol-Valencia matches have ended in draws, most recently a 2-2 draw at Mestalla. Of the last seven head-to-head matches, four have ended in draws, Valencia has won two and Espanyol has won just one. This suggests that a close contest between the teams is expected.
Betting Tips and Predictions
Considering the current form of the teams and the missing players, Espanyol seems to have the better chance of winning, especially at home. However, Valencia's fighting spirit and the pressure to score points mean that we can expect a close match.
Closing Thoughts
This match is crucial for both teams in terms of the rest of the season. Espanyol will be looking to take advantage of Valencia's injury-hit squad at home, while the visitors will be desperate to secure a point to avoid the relegation zone.
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