Valencia vs Elche match preview and predictions for Saturday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as two struggling teams meet at Mestalla.
- DATE: Saturday 30th January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- STADIUM: Mestalla
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Valencia vs Elche Preview
These are dark times at Mestalla with Valencia now facing up to what looks like a genuine relegation battle. A defeat here against fellow strugglers Elche really would set the alarm bells ringing for followers of Los Che so this is a high stakes game for Javi Gracia and his side.
It’s 20 points from 20 games so far for Valencia which in most seasons equates to the kind of form that will put you in serious relegation danger. They are 14th currently with their only victory in their last 11 coming at Real Valladolid earlier this month. That felt like an important result but since then Valencia have been held at home by struggling Osasuna and well beaten by Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in league and cup.
The manner of their Copa del Rey defeat at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in midweek made it quite clear where their priorities lay. It also served as a painful reminder to Valencia fans of how far they have fallen given they were natural competitors with Sevilla for that coveted 4th spot throughout much of the last decade.
As for Elche, their struggles were to be expected and while they started brightly, their form has taken a serious turn for the worse over the past few months. Indeed they haven’t won a league match since defeating Valencia at home in the reverse fixture back in October. Since then it’s 13 without victory in LaLiga.
That inevitably will lead to some questions being asked about Jorge Almiron’s future although it is widely accepted that he was always going to have a very tough job on his hands. The transfer window closes early next week so it’s going to be a really important few days for Elche and they could do with finding a way to bring in a couple of players who could make a difference for them over the remainder of the season.
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Head to Head
- Last 5 Competitive Meetings: 3 Valencia Wins, 2 Elche Wins.
- Elche won 2-1 when the sides met earlier this term.
- Valencia had won all of the previous 3 league meetings.
- The two top flight meetings at Mestalla this century have produced 2-1 and 3-1 Valencia wins, both in 2014.
Team News
Hugo Guillamón is suspended while Mouctar Diakhaby is out injured for Los Che.
Fidel is injured for Elche while Guido Carrillo is a doubt.
Predicted Valencia Starting Lineup:
Domenech – Gaya, Molina, Gabriel, Correia – Cheryshev, Soler, Racic, Wass – Gomez, Vallejo (4-4-2)
Predicted Elche Starting Lineup:
Badia – Mojica, Verdu, Gonzalez, Barragan – Marcone, Pomares, Rodriguez – Rigoni, Boye, Guti (4-3-3)
Valencia vs Elche Predictions
Score Prediction: Valencia 2-1 Elche
Although severely depleted, there is still some quality in this Valencia side and they have far more players who could potentially make a difference in the final third than their opponents. Javi Gracia will expect his big players to show up and they ought to claim a rare Mestalla victory against struggling Elche.
Valencia vs Elche Betting Tips (18+)
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