Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid match preview and predictions for Saturday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Atleti look to keep their fine start to the season going.
- DATE: Saturday 5th December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- VENUE: Wanda Metropolitano
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Preview
Atletico Madrid are bidding to make it 26 league games unbeaten when they host Real Valladolid on Saturday. On paper this is not a fixture where that unbeaten streak ought to be threatened but Sergio’s side have shown they can make it difficult for the top teams and Atleti will need to find the level of creativity that is still at times lacking.
Diego Simeone would have been frustrated by his team’s failure to see off a weakened Bayern Munich at the Wanda Metropolitano in midweek. It now means they have a decisive final Champions League group game in Austria next week against RB Salzburg, just 3 days before the Madrid derby at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
As a result, if Simeone is going to rest players, it’s likely to be here but the Atleti boss will still be determined to extend a 6 game winning streak in LaLiga. With just 2 goals conceded in their opening 9 matches, Atleti are now the bookies’ favourites to win this league and they are starting to look capable of emulating the class of 2014 which delivered the club’s first league title of the 21st Century.
Real Valladolid are hovering just above the relegation zone heading into the weekend action. However they do take decent form into this fixture. With 7 points from their last 3 league games, Sergio’s side seem to be clicking again and crucially they are starting to look a bit more threatening in the final third of the pitch.
They’ve scored 6 times in those 3 most recent matches with Brazilian forward Marcos André on target in each of them. The 24 year old, who spent last season on loan at Mirandes, is starting to look like a player of genuine top flight quality and he may be the visitors’ main threat here.
Check out our match previews for every game in LaLiga this weekend here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 5 Atletico Wins, 1 Draw.
- Atleti have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 games against Real Valladolid.
- The last 3 matches between the clubs have produced a grand total of just 2 goals.
- Atleti have won their last 5 home games against Real Valladolid with 1-0 wins in each of the last 2 seasons.
Team News
Luis Suarez is available again following COVID-19 but may not be ready to play the full 90 minutes. Hector Herrera and Lucas Torreira are also available should Simeone want to freshen up his midfield by resting Koke or Saul.
Real Valladolid could name an unchanged XI here.
Predicted Atleti Starting Lineup:
Oblak – Lodi, Felipe, Savic, Trippier – Lemar, Herrera, Saul, Vitolo – Felix, Correa (4-4-2)
Predicted Real Valladolid Starting Lineup:
Masip – Nacho, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Hervias – Plano, San Emeterio, Alcaraz, Orellana – Guardiola, Marcos Andre (4-4-2)
Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Predictions
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
There are similarities between the way these two teams set up. Real Valladolid clearly don’t have anywhere near as much quality but they are a solid side and everyone knows their roles in their 4-4-2 system which will mirror Atleti. It could be an awkward game for the hosts who will surely rotate their team with a huge week ahead but they still ought to get the job done with a narrow home win looking likely.
LaLiga Betting Tips (18+)
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