Valencia – Espanyol Prediction & Picks (17.02.2019)

Espanyol-vs-Valencia

Valencia – Espanyol SOCCER PICKS

At Valencia and Espanyol Barcelona two opposing trends meet. The hosts have been unbeaten in five games and have been able to work their way up the table in recent weeks. The team of coach Marcelino Garcia comes so slowly after it had started very weakly into the season and, among other things due to injuries for a long time not in the lane. The Catalans are the other way round. If you are in second place in the middle of the Hinserie, things have been going downhill for quite some time now. Currently, Espanyol is in 12th place and thus in a table region that the Catalans know best as last year’s fan.

New hope nourishes access from China. This is striker Lei Wu, who recently moved from reigning champions Shanghai SIPG to Espanyol. In the last two matchdays, the top scorer of the last season in the Chinese Super League has come on at least once and apparently he brings the success back a long way: Both games were not lost in contrast to the previous three rounds. Instead, Barcelona drew with Villarreal and eventually 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano. However, at Valencia against Espanyol Barcelona, ​​the odds favor the hosts. An assessment that our bets join. We put five units home to victory.

Valencia:

When the kickers from the east of the country drew 2-2 at the Barcelona championship two weeks ago, it was a real satisfaction for the fans of the club, who have often been suffering this season. The draw finally showed that Valencia can be expected again. The Elf of coach Marcelino García was even in front with 2: 0, but twice beat Lionel Messi back, which there was finally the point division. The Blanquinegros then drew again in a 2-1 draw in the semi-final first leg in the Copa del Rey at Betis Sevilla and last they separated in the La Liga scoreless from equally strong form and equal points Real Sociedad. Valencia drew 2-0 at Celtic FC in the Europa League last Thursday evening, which means they have at least one leg in the next round of the competition.

The Valencianistas have thus been unbeaten in six competitive matches, with wins against Villarreal CF and Getafe CF in the Cup before the draw. The last-mentioned success had a bitter aftertaste, as it came after the final whistle to fierce clashes between numerous players of both clubs. Mouctar Diakhaby, who was subsequently suspended by the Spanish Football Association for four games, was particularly involved. The 22-year-old Frenchman, who came from Lyon in the summer, will not be allowed to run up against Espanyol.

However, from the perspective of the Murciélagos is the return of Gonzalo Guedes on the offensive, which was back on the field after almost two months on the final day – if only for about a quarter of an hour. In addition, at home in Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia lost out as a loser this season. A defeat that was more than three months ago. However, it can only be spoken of a real home strength conditionally, because not less than eight of the remaining eleven home games ended with a draw – maximum in the La Liga!

Espanyol Barcelona:

The four-time cup winner has been mercilessly passed through for several weeks in the table. The low point was reached on the penultimate round of the game, when the blue-whites were back in 15th place and thus recorded the worst season placings. However, thanks to a win last weekend, the downtrend was halted, at least for the moment, and the two-time UEFA Cup finalist is now ranked 12th.

An important reason why the Periquitos crashed was above all the disappointing appearances abroad: they won only one win from twelve appearances and with otherwise four draws and seven defeats, Espanyol is the weakest away team of La Liga. The last time that the Blanquiazules landed a victory as a visiting team, is just under four months back and also succeeded only in the bottom club SD Huesca.

Coach Rubi can resort in the match at Valencia in the defense but at least again on Mario Hermoso, who was last missing due to a card lock. Oskar Duarte from Costa Rica and Brazilian Naldo, as well as Paraguayan Hernan Perez in midfield, will continue to be in for injury. Otherwise, Mágico hopes for new impetus in the offensive by the at the beginning mentioned Chinese newcomer Lei Wu.


© Andrey