Atletico Madrid vs Valencia match preview and predictions for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Atleti look to extend their lead at the top.
- DATE: Sunday 24th January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Wanda Metropolitano
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Preview
The weekend’s Spanish football concludes with Atletico Madrid playing host to Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano. While the league table suggests there is a significant gulf in class between these teams, Los Che do often raise their game in the bigger matches and they can’t be completely ruled out here.
That being said, Atleti are in fantastic league form and have the handy knack of finding a way to win matches, even without playing well. That was the case yet again in midweek as Luis Suarez’s brace, including another very late winner, sealed a 2-1 comeback win at Eibar. He’s now the joint top scorer in LaLiga with old friend Leo Messi and has very quickly made a mockery of Barcelona’s decision to let him join Atleti on a free.
We have gone past the point where Atletico Madrid are merely seen as strong contenders to win LaLiga. They are seven points clear, still with a game in hand on Real Madrid and Barcelona and from this position, they quite frankly should win LaLiga. That will bring its own pressures but Atleti have kept their cool so far and aside from the derbies with Los Blancos, they haven’t lost a league game in over a year.
Valencia on the other hand are in the bottom half and were perhaps fortunate to scrape a draw at home to Osasuna in midweek. They did win their most recent road game though – a 1-0 success at Real Valladolid and despite their problems, they have taken 4 points off Barcelona and Real Madrid so far this season, so they clearly have an appetite for the big stage.
While they are missing Daniel Wass here, their injury problems have at least cleared up which puts them in a position where they can field what is still a relatively strong starting eleven again, at least relative to a lot of teams currently around them in the table.
Read all our LaLiga match previews here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Atleti Wins, 3 Draws.
- Atleti won 1-0 at Mestalla in November.
- Valencia have only avoided defeat once at the Wanda Metropolitano – a 1-1 draw last season.
- Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in 12 games against Los Che overall.
Team News
Kieran Trippier is banned for the hosts while Mario Hermoso remains a fitness doubt.
Daniel Wass is suspended but Valencia have no significant injury absentees.
Predicted Atletico Madrid Starting Lineup:
Oblak – Felipe, Gimenez, Savic – Carrasco, Llorente, Koke, Vrsaljko – Lemar, Suarez, Felix (3-4-3)
Predicted Valencia Starting Lineup:
Domenech – Gaya, Diakhaby, Paulista, Correia – Cheryshev, Racic, Soler, Musah – Kang-In, Gomez (4-4-2)
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Predictions
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Valencia
Valencia might have their moments but Atletico Madrid ought to be just too strong over 90 minutes. They are passing just about every test that is put in front of them in LaLiga right now and there’s no real reason to expect them to slip up here.
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Betting Tips (18+)
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