Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as the visitors target an upset at the Metropolitano.
| Date | Saturday 21st January 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 18:30 (CET) |
| Stadium | Metropolitano |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid Preview
Atletico Madrid entertain Real Valladolid this weekend in LaLiga. Diego Simeone will have one eye on next week’s Madrid derby in the Copa del Rey when he picks his team with the cup of real importance to their hopes of salvaging something from this season.
They can’t afford to keep underperforming in LaLiga though with Champions League qualification far from assured. Atleti do occupy 4th place heading into this weekend but they are only 2 points above 9th and closer to the relegation zone than they are leaders Barcelona. If anything, 4th perhaps flatters them right now as they haven’t played anywhere near well enough this season.
Their only league win in the last six came at home to bottom club Elche but this is another fixture that they really should win. There is some good news for Atleti fans this week with Memphis Depay signing but as ever we await to see whether he really fits in with Simeone’s style of play. In theory, he should be a better fit than Joao Felix and the Dutchman will be eager to prove a point having been deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona.
Real Valladolid meanwhile have got some pretty big problems of their own. They head into this game on the back of 4 straight defeats, all of which came to nil. Their only points in the last six came at home to Elche and they are sinking rapidly towards the relegation zone. Suddenly it’s not all rosy for Pacheta who has done a terrific job at the Jose Zorrilla but now has plenty of problems to address.
He could do with a bit of help from the board with fresh blood this month potentially making all the difference to their survival push. They haven’t done any business at all in January to date but there’s a clear need for a bit more of a goal threat with the newly promoted team having failed to score in a huge 59% of their fixtures this season in LaLiga.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Atletico Madrid
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | Carrasco, Gimenez |
| BANNED | Savic, Reguilon |
Possible XI: Oblak – Reinildo, Hermoso, Witsel, Molina – Lemar, Koke, Kondogbia, Llorente – Griezmann, Morata (4-4-2)
Coach: Diego Simeone
Real Valladolid
| INJURED | Escudero, Kenedy, Anuar |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Monchu |
Possible XI: Masip – Rosa, Javi Sanchez, Joaquin, Fresneda – Aguado, Mesa – Plano, Kike Perez, Plata – Leon (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Pacheta
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
Despite their problems, Atletico Madrid should win this game and they can probably get away with a bit of light rotation too given their cup commitments. Real Valladolid aren’t offering enough going forwards to suggest they will cause too many problems for Diego Simeone’s men and another defeat to nil looks likely.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
