Real Valladolid vs Villarreal predictions, H2H and match preview for this Friday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis, betting tips and predicted line-ups ahead of this key clash at the bottom end of the division.
DATE/TIME – Friday 8th February, 21:00 (Spanish Time)
STADIUM – Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla
COMPETITION – La Liga
#RealValladolidVillarreal
Another weekend, brings another relegation six-pointer and it’s a genuinely huge game for both Valladolid and Villarreal. The hosts will be desperate for the right response having been hammered in surprising circumstances at Huesca last weekend. Villarreal meanwhile will take any form of win right now as they look to find some kind of platform from which to build.
Javi Calleja’s return, just 50 days on from his sacking at the Ceramica, promised to get off to a positive start last time out. They were 2-0 up on Espanyol at one stage. However they went on to concede twice in the final 15 minutes and draw a game they definitely should have won. There were a few surprises in that team with the likes of Samu Chukwueze left on the sidelines and it seems like Calleja is at least trying to get a bit more steel in midfield as he tries to get his troops geared up for the battle ahead.
Valladolid have an advantage in some respects in that they were always anticipating a relegation battle this term. This isn’t a must win for them but if they could get maximum points, they’d suddenly be 9 clear of Villarreal. That would be a really significant margin that they’d be hopeful of defending over the remaining few months. They are the division’s lowest scorers though and they will certainly need to defend better this week.
No player on either side has yet reached 5 league goals this term which goes a long way to explaining where the problems lie. Villarreal have been creating more chances but not converting while doubts still linger about the quality of a shaky defence.
Real Valladolid vs Villarreal Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-0 Valladolid
Betting Tip: Valladolid 0.0 Asian Handicap @ 2.12 with Spin Palace Sports
Villarreal have been frequently described as too good to go down. However that doesn’t really apply to a defence that has been poor all season and while they have quality up front, time is running out for their forwards to start delivering. Valladolid are scrapping for their lives and that could be the deciding factor here against a Villarreal side that at times looks short on character and fight.
Real Valladolid vs Villarreal H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 2 Valladolid Wins, 3 Villarreal Wins, 1 Draw.
- Valladolid were surprise 1-0 winners at the Ceramica in the reverse fixture.
- The most recent meeting at the Jose Zorrilla also ended 1-0 to Valladolid in 2014.
- The last 3 meetings there have produced just 3 goals in total, although they’ve only met once in Valladolid in 9 years in a competitive setting.
One to Watch – Oscar Plano
399 – Óscar Plano’s goal ended Valladolid’s run of 399 minutes without scoring a single goal, their worst run at the beginning of a league season. Broke pic.twitter.com/nBeL5dacam
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 22, 2018
Valladolid have struggled for goals this term but Oscar Plano is perhaps their man threat. No Valladolid player has scored or created more goals than him (3 Goals, 3 Assists).
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Predicted Line Ups
Real Valladolid Team:
Masip – Moyano, Olivas, Fernandez, Nacho – Hervias, Michel, Alcaraz, Villa – Plano, Guardiola (4-4-2)
Villarreal Team:
Asenjo – Ruiz, Gonzalez, Mori – Pedraza, Iborra, Caseres, Fornals, Miguelon – Moreno, Ekambi (3-5-2)
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