Granada vs Valencia match preview and predictions for Wednesday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Los Che travel to Los Carmenes.
- DATE: Wednesday 30th December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 17:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Los Carmenes
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Granada vs Valencia Preview
The opening game on the penultimate night of action in 2020 in LaLiga comes from Los Carmenes. It sees a Granada side that has enjoyed an excellent twelve months, take on a Valencia side that most certainly hasn’t. The reasons for that may largely lie off the football pitch but the current league table doesn’t make pleasant reading for Valencia fans with a return of just 15 points from 15 games so far this term.
Diego Martinez’s Granada are 6 points better off with a game in hand and it’s striking that they are now the clear favourites in this fixture after the contrasting years these two clubs have had. Strong home form, even behind closed doors, has been key to Granada’s success and they’ve managed to chalk up 3 points in 4 of their 7 league outings at Los Carmenes so far this term.
While they do come into this game following a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid, Granada once again showed they have the tools to cause problems for the very best teams in Spain. They have a strong midfield but still at times lack that cutting edge in the final third and no Granada player has scored more than 3 league goals so far this term, something which will need to improve if they are going to replicate last season’s fantastic achievement of sealing the final European place.
Valencia’s stock has fallen to such an extent that few at Mestalla are even contemplating the prospect of reaching Europe this term. They are six without a win in LaLiga heading into this match and pre-season fears of a relegation battle this term will quickly turn into a reality unless they can start putting a few more positive results on the board.
They do have an outstanding record against Granada in LaLiga but they will be content with any kind of result here you’d imagine. Their most assured centre-back Gabriel Paulista is missing through injury, something which invariably leads to problems for Los Che but they can at least take some confidence from having picked up an excellent point at Camp Nou in their most recent away fixture.
Read all our LaLiga match previews here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Granada Win, 3 Valencia Wins, 2 Draws.
- The sides met 3 teams last season with Granada winning in the Copa del Rey while Valencia collected 4 points from the 2 league meetings.
- That Copa win is Granada’s only victory in their last 17 games against Valencia.
- Both teams have scored in each of the last four meetings in Granada.
Team News
Luis Milla has tested positive for COVID while Darwin Machís and Ángel Montoro are also missing for the home team due to injury.
Gabriel Paulista is out injured for Valencia while Hugo Guillamón and Uros Racic are rated doubtful.
Predicted Granada Starting Lineup:
Silva – Neva, Sanchez, Duarte, Foulquier – Eteki, Gonalons, Herrera – Suarez, Soldado, Puertas (4-3-3)
Predicted Valencia Starting Lineup:
Domenech – Gaya, Diakhaby, Mangala, Wass – Cheryshev, Racic, Soler, Musah – Guedes, Gomez (4-4-2)
Granada vs Valencia Predictions
Score Prediction: Granada 2-2 Valencia
Luis Milla and Darwin Machis are significant absentees for Granada and that may just help Valencia get a greater foothold in this game than they might have otherwise. The visitors have been getting a few draws on the road in fixtures where many expected them to lose and they might just have enough about them to get something from this.
Granada vs Valencia Betting Tips (18+)
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