Valencia and Granada measure forces at Estadio de Mestalla, in a match for the 13th round of the First Division. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 3 wins and 1 draw in the last 4 games. However, the last time these two teams played a game at this stadium was on 20-11-2016, in a First Division match that ended in a draw for (1‑1). The goals of the match were scored by Nani (47 ‘), for Valencia, and M. Carcela (45’), for Granada. In this match, the home factor may be decisive, since Granada presents considerable differences in its results at home and as a visitor.
Valencia :
The home team is currently in the 13th position, with 17 points won, after 4 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses. In the penultimate match, he tied at home against Sevilla by (1‑1). In the last match, he won out against Espanyol by (1-2). This is a team that presents similar results at home and abroad, so it is not usually affected by the home factor, since in the last 30 matches it records 8 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses as a visitor; against 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses in his stadium. The team arrives at this match after a home victory with Lille by (4-1).
For this competition, he did not lose any of the last 6 games in his stadium. His defense has not been very solid, since he suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 games, but his attack has scored regularly, since he scored at least one goal in each of the last 10 games for this competition. In 12 games in the competition, he suffered the first goal 6 times and only got 1 comeback.
Valencia comes to this match after a 4-1 victory against Lille, in the group stage of the Champions League. In the last game of the Spanish league, the local club beat Espanyol 1-2. In this match against Granada, coach Albert Celades must keep the team 4-3-3, favoring a style of possession of the ball and looking for spaces on the flanks. Denis Cheryshev, Rodrigo and Maxi Gómez are expected to play in the attack front of the local club, with the last two athletes mentioned very fast and strong at the time of finishing. On the other hand, Dani Parejo is the best gunner of this formation, with 6 goals. Out of this game are Sobrino, Gonçalo Guedes, Coquelin and Piccini, all with physical problems.
Granada CF :
The visiting team is currently in 6th position, with 20 points won, after 6 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses. In the penultimate match, he lost out against Getafe by (3‑1). In the last game, he lost at home against Real Sociedad by (1-2). This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 games he has 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses as a visitor, with 23 goals scored and 18 suffered; against 12 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in his stadium, with 21 goals scored and 8 suffered. In its last 6 games as a visitor to the championship, Granada records 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, so it conquered 8 points in 18 possible. His attack has scored regularly, as he always scored at least one goal in the last 10 games for this competition. In 12 games in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 6 times and never got the comeback. In the last 7 home games for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: he scored 6 of his 13 goals between minutes (61′-75 ‘).
Granada arrives for this match after a 1-2 defeat, against Real Sociedad, adding the second consecutive defeat in this Spanish championship: Vadillo scored the only goal of the team. Coach Diego Martínez must act with a defensive strategy, seeking only the counterattack to explore the opponent’s back. The irreverent Álvaro Vadillo is the great star of this visiting club, being a very skilled athlete in hand to hand. On the other hand, Antonio Puertas is the great gunner of this club, with 4 goals scored. For this game, the visiting coach cannot count on Lozano and Gonalons, both with physical problems.
