Valencia vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Valencia aren’t definitely safe in La Liga but Los Che may benefit from their fixture list as they take on a distracted Atletico Madrid side at Mestalla on Saturday afternoon.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / 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 – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Valencia preview: Fortunate Valencia
On paper, Valencia have a tough run of fixtures to round off their campaign. They face Atletico Madrid before Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad and Barcelona.
However, Atleti are focused on the UEFA Champions League, Rayo on the UEFA Europa Conference League, Athletic are preparing for the departure of Ernesto Valverde, Real Sociedad are coasting after winning the Copa del Rey and Barca will have the title wrapped up by then.
Atletico Madrid preview: Focus on UCL
Atletico Madrid come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Metropolitano in midweek in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final. It was a tale of two penalties with Viktor Gyokeres’ strike cancelled out by Julian Alvarez.
Los Rojiblancos did manage a five-match losing streak-ending 3-2 defeat of Athletic Club last weekend as they went to a strong eleven to prepare for the clash with Arsenal but a return to their heavily rotated lineup is expected here.
Valencia team news: Defensive injuries
Valencia still have lots of defensive injury issues as the versatile Eray Comert remains a doubt, while goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala is sidelined alongside full-back Dimitri Foulquier and centre-backs Thierry Correia, Jose Manuel Copete and Mouctar Diakhaby.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Dimitrievski; Unai Nunez, Cesar Tarrega, Pepelu, Jose Luis Gaya; Luis Rioja, Javi Guerra, Rodriguez, Ramazani; Sadiq, Beltran
Unavailable: Julen Agirrezabala (Injured), Correia (Injured), Copete (Injured), Diakhaby (Injured), Foulquier (Injured)
Questionable: Comert (Injured)
Atletico Madrid team news: Heavy rotation
As mentioned, Atletico will be expected to heavily rotate at Mestalla, especially in attack after Nico Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone and Julian Alvarez all picked up slight injury issues in midweek.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Musso; Jaume Bonar, Le Normand, Lenglet, Julio Diaz; Obed Vargas, Johnny, Rodri Mendoza, Alex Baena; Sorloth, Almada
Unavailable: Pablo Barrios (Injured), Gonzalez (Injured)
Questionable: Jose Maria Gimenez (Injured), Giuliano Simeone (Injured), Julian Alvarez (Injured)
Valencia vs Atletico Madrid prediction
It is fortunate for Valencia that their fixture list should leave them facing some distracted opponents. That is because Carlos Corberan’s side have are only five points clear of the bottom three and the relegation places with five games to go. They now face an Atletico Madrid side that have a top four finish wrapped up and there will be very little motivation for this one and so siding with the Valencians is the way to go for this one at Mestalla.
Valencia vs Atletico Madrid tip: Double chance – Valencia to win or draw
