Valencia vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Mestalla sees a Valencia side seeking to continue a recent improvement and pushing up the table taking on La Liga’s surprise package thus far, Espanyol, this weekend.
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: Improved Los Che
Former West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan was coming under pressure at Mestalla but the Spaniard has found some form of late with Valencia trying to push themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places.
The Valencians come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat of Getafe at the Coliseum at the weekend, courtesy of an 84th minute winner scored by experienced left-back Jose Luis Gaya.
Espanyol preview: Surprise package Espanyol
Under the management of Manolo Gonzalez, Espanyol play an entertaining style of football that has them currently sitting just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in La Liga.
The Catalans have, though, collected just one point from their last three matches in the league as they come into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss at home to Girona at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia at the weekend.
Valencia team news: Jose Luis Gaya now suspended
Jose Luis Gaya was booked in that game against Getafe and so he is now missing through suspension, while Hugo Duro was sent off after the Valencian winner.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Jesus Vasquez, Copete, Ugrinic; Pepelu, Santamaria; Luis Rioja, Beltran, Danjuma; Sadiq
Unavailable: Julen Agirrezabala (Injured), Jose Luis Gaya (Suspended), Correia (Injured), Diakhaby (Injured), Hugo Duro (Suspended)
Questionable: Cesar Tarrega (Injured), Comert (Injured), Dani Raba (Injured)
Espanyol team news: El Hilali suspended
Key right-back Omar El Hilali, who has enjoyed an impressive time of it at Espanyol, is missing through suspension for this one, while Javi Puado is unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic; Pickel, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Urko Gonzalez, Pol Lozano; Dolan, Edu Exposito, Pere Milla; Roberto Fernandez
Unavailable: El Hilali (Suspended), Javi Puado (Injured)
Questionable:
Valencia vs Espanyol prediction
Valencia have been much-improved in the calendar year. However, they now have a lot of issues at the back and it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest their first-choice back four and goalkeeper are now unavailable. They face an Espanyol side that head to Mestalla with a bit of intensity of their own and a need to bounce back so it wouldn’t be a shock to see quite a loose encounter that is reasonably fun to watch for the neutral.
Valencia vs Espanyol tip: Both teams to score
