On Sunday evening, Valencia hosts Alaves at Mestalla in La Liga as Los Che looks to boost their chances of European football next season.
Los Che needs to bounce back after two straight defeatsValencia is looking to arrest their current run of two straight league defeats. Ruben Baraja’s team first suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Real Betis before a 4-2 loss at Barcelona last time out.
The poor results came on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in the Spanish top-flight.
Despite the recent slip-ups, Valencia are still in seventh place and two points adrift of the European spots.
The defeat against Real Betis marked the end of an impressive 11-game unbeaten run at the Mestalla in La Liga. Los Che have also demonstrated their defensive prowess, keeping three clean sheets in their previous five home games.
They have struggled for wins over Alaves of late, winning just one of the last six meetings with the visitors in all competitions.
Alaves heading to Mestalla in decent formThe visitors head into this game on the back of two impressive home victories over Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo. Not only have they scored at least two goals in each, but they have also kept back-to-back clean sheets, too.
The two wins have moved the visitors 12 points clear of the relegation zone. They are now also 11 points adrift of the European spots in the Spanish top-flight.
Luis Garcia’s team has been involved in several low-scoring encounters of late in La Liga, as nine of their last ten games have produced under 2.5 goals.
Alaves have been woeful on their travels of late in La Liga. Los Blanquiazules has failed to win in four away games in the Spanish top-flight, having also suffered three consecutive defeats.
The visitor’s main problem away from home has been a lack of goals, as they have failed to score in four matches on their travels.
What am I backing?The teams’ form could not have been more contrasting in recent weeks. However, I believe this will be a low-scoring, tight affair, so the bet I am backing is under 2.5 goals scored.
