Atletico Madrid vs Valencia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Atletico Madrid have been in excellent form for the last couple of months since a poor start to the campaign as they take on a struggling Valencia side at the Metropolitano.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / US – ESPN+
Atletico Madrid preview: Improved Atletico
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid come into this one on the back of an entertaining 3-2 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion in the Netherlands in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League to continue their strong form.
Los Rojiblancos have been in improved form since a slow start but they have been stunned by back-to-back defeats in La Liga ahead of this one, most recently suffering a 1-0 loss to Athletic Club at San Mames in the Basque Country last week.
Valencia preview: Struggling Los Che
Carlos Corberan’s start to life as Valencia boss began well, having been appointed on Christmas Eve last year, but Los Che are struggling again as they begin the weekend sitting just three points outside of the bottom three and the relegation places.
The Valencians are unbeaten in their last four matches but three of those games have been draws. Their most recent draw came at Mestalla last weekend, sharing a 1-1 scoreline with fellow fallen giants Sevilla.
Atletico Madrid team news: A few doubts
Atletico are dealing with a few doubts for this one as centre-backs Jose Maria Gimenez and Clement Lenglet are both potentially sidelined alongside both Marcos Llorente and Alex Baena.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Marc Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Gallagher, Pablo Barrios, Gonzalez; Almada, Julian Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Jose Maria Gimenez (Injured), Lenglet (Injured), Marcos Llorente (Injured), Alex Baena (Injured)
Valencia team news: Cesar Tarrega suspended
Cesar Tarrega is unavailable for the Valencians this weekend after a red card last week and so he is now missing through suspension, while fellow defender Mouctar Diakhaby is also out injured.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Julen Agirrezabala; Correia, Cumart, Copete, Jose Luis Gaya; Pepelu, Javi Guerra; Danjuma, Almeda, Luis Rioja; Hugo Duro
Unavailable: Cesar Tarrega (Suspended), Diakhaby (Injured)
Questionable:
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia prediction
Atletico Madrid will seek to get themselves back on the front foot. Diego Simeone has evolved his football to be more entertaining but that has come at the cost of being less defensively rigid. They now face a Valencia side that have laid down against some of the bigger teams in Spain and if that was to happen again then Atletico will be expected to ease themselves to a victory in the Spanish capital city.
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia tip: Atletico Madrid to win
