Ok, time to get back to it after having a day-off to catch my breath after the intense Champions League quarterfinals, by browsing through the games in the Europa and the Conference League without any pressure to find the best bets. Tonight, there are not that many eye-catching games on the agenda, but with one exception. La Liga in Spain. Not because of a clash between any of the top 5 teams, but there is a match that potentially could have a big impact on relegations for two classic teams. Valencia taking on Sevilla with a chance to move further away from the much feared last three seats of the table.
This is anything but an easy game to predict, personally I think the Spanish top league is maybe the hardest one to do so in all of Europe. But because of that, there is also quite often good bet value to find for La Liga.
Valencia is entering tonight’s battle with great confidence after last weekend’s win against Real Madrid, making the last 5 games delivered without any defeat (3 wins and 2 draws). Allowing a much-needed climb from the dreaded relegation positions. The team will also get their squad strengthened with 3 players: Gaya, Rioja and Foulquier back from suspensions.
Sevilla on the other hand, narrowly holding a better position in the league table than Valencia, comes to tonight’s clash with an almost opposite situation. The last 5 games played only displays one victory, three defeats and one draw. Looking at the situation for their squad, it also displays a reverse situation. Three players Vargas, Pedrosa and Nianzou are all in doubt to be able to play the match tonight.
Conclusion. These two teams run side by side and that shows in the stats where a draw is more than a common outcome of a clash between the two. The last two games ended that way and so have many before. The stats also tell us that while none of the team has delivered great scoring averages this season, both have suffered more than one goal conceded in average. So, my conclusion iis that Valencia will be able to conservate the energy received from beating Real Madrid, keep their climbing form curve and earn the much desired 3 points needed to move further away from risk of relegation. But they will not be able to do so unhurt. Weighing value against risk, I put my dollar behind: Both teams to score & Valencia to win.
