Espanyol will clash with Valencia on December 18, 2024, at the RCDE Stadium, facing off at 20:30. This encounter marks a pivotal moment for both teams as they battle to escape the relegation zone of La Liga.
Both clubs find themselves at the bottom of the league table, with Valencia enduring a dismal run of form, sitting at the very bottom. After suffering another defeat to Real Valladolid last week, Valencia are four points behind third-bottom Espanyol, but with a game still to play, they have the chance to close the gap significantly. A win for Valencia could breathe new life and hope, but for Espanyol, victory would boost their chances of leaving the drop zone.
Valencia have not secured any away victories this season and currently endure three straight league losses. Espanyol, on the other hand, have primarily relied on their home form, garnering 13 of their 14 league points at the RCDE Stadium.
Both teams have struggled to find the back of the net this season. Espanyol hasn't scored for three consecutive matches, which raises concerns about their attacking output. With Valencia having managed just three goals away from home this season, the prospects for this match seem grim. Given this, many are wary of placing bets on match results or total goals for this fixture.
For punters interested in other betting options, statistics show the likelihood of card accumulations during this significant fixture. Espanyol's recent record indicates they have achieved three or more cards in their last two outings and four of their last six games. This trend suggests betting on Espanyol to accumulate over 2.5 cards is worth considering, especially since they've been known to receive at least two cards in all but one game this season.
Leandro Cabrera, typically reliable defensively, has seen his fouling stats rise, recording five fouls over the last three contests. Bettors may want to back him to incur at least one foul during the match. Meanwhile, Valencia's Cesar Tarrega has been prone to fouling as well, with notable performances yielding multiple fouls.
Team news heading to this clash reveals some key absences. Espanyol will be without Pol Lozano and Jose Gragera; Lozano due to suspension and Gragera due to injury. Alex Kral could be expected to maintain his position within the midfield, and Leandro Cabrera will likely anchor the defense alongside Sergi Gomez. Valencia's injury woes also deepen as Thierry Correia is sidelined until next season with a serious ligament injury. Jose Gaya is out until the new year with his recovery, and Mouctar Diakhaby's participation remains uncertain after missing the last match. Giorgi Mamardashvili, the first-choice goalkeeper, is also expected to miss the match, which could severely impact Valencia's defensive lineup.
The match is delicately poised, with betting odds reflecting the closeness of the contest. Espanyol stands at 13/8 to secure the win, indicating they hold roughly a 38.1% implied chance of victory; Valencia is priced at 15/8 to win the match, with the draw pegged at 2/1. Javi Puado from Espanyol is viewed as the potential goal threat, leading the anytime goalscorer market at 23/10. Valencia’s Hugo Duro follows as their most likely scorer at 12/5.
Notably, the two teams have shared the spoils in their past three encounters, each concluding with draws, and history suggests low-scoring affairs. The total goals per game average for Espanyol stands at approximately 2.69, highlighting their overall struggle for prolific scoring.
Fans and analysts alike remain skeptical; predictions suggest yet another low-scoring game could be on the horizon. Both teams seem to favor defense over offense lately, which has contributed to their scuffles at the lower end of the table. Consequently, the safe bet may lean toward under 2.5 goals being scored again.
Overall, this match between Espanyol and Valencia is shaping up to be the ultimate relegation six-pointer. Both sides have much to gain and even more to lose. Their respective futures within La Liga may hinge on the outcome of this nail-biting contest.
