Valencia vs Villarreal Prediction & Betting Tips (31 August)

Valencia is now the only team not to have unlocked its points counter in this new LaLiga season. This is unfortunate since the Ché club is very clearly aiming for a spot in the top 8 for the race for Europe but we cannot say that its results are in line with its objectives. On the first day, despite a good fight, Valencia fell at home against Barça with a double from Robert Lewandowski 1-2. In the process, the Blanquinegros went to eat a round trip to Vigo defeat 1-3 before losing in San Mames during the week against Athletic Bilbao 1-0 while showing absolutely nothing in the game. Valencia is, quite logically, last in the championship.

Villarreal showed great things in its first days of the championship and very clearly deserves its place in the top 3 of LaLiga with 7 points. There are two successes against Sevilla at Pizjuan 1-2 and in a prolific match against Celta Vigo which shocks more than one at the start of the season 4-3. During the first day, at home, Marcelinho's men were held by Atlético Madrid 2-2.

It's an avalanche of injuries that spreads to Valencia. No less than seven players missed the trip to Bilbao on Wednesday evening. Sergi Canos (1 goal, 2 assists last year), Diakhaby (serious injury), captain Jose Gaya (starting left side), replacement goalkeeper Jaume Domenech without forgetting to mention the young talent Fran Perez. The two other players, Castillejo and Ozkacar, were not called up by the coach. The first city could have to repack its bags by the end of the transfer window, i.e. this evening before midnight. To talk about Valencia's very light transfer window, let's talk about Rafa Mir who signed from Sevilla FC without forgetting to mention the recent arrival of Luis Rioja from Deportivo Alaves while goalkeeper Dimitriesvki, holder of Rayo Vallecano, decided to sign in order to occupy a sub role until next summer when Mamardashvili will go to play for Liverpool. On the departure deck, Yaremchuk (3 pawns last year, Olympiakos), Cömert (loaned to Valladolid), Peter Federico (15 caps in La Liga last year, end of loan), Selim Amallah (return from loan to Valladolid ) and recently Hugo Gonzalez (9 appearances in the league last year) set sail.

On the Villarreal side, there are defections to report with in particular the injuries of Foyth (starter), Pedraza and Denis Suarez (rotation in the midfield). The three elements will likely be preserved by the medical staff this evening. Arriving this summer from Basel, Frenchman Thierno Barry scored his first goal for the club coming off the bench against Celta Vigo. Same case for rookie Sergi Cardona (ex-Las Palmas) author of a goal and an assist in La Liga this season while loan returner, Arnaut Danjuma (2 goals in 3 games played this season) found a certain complicity with club legend, Gerard Moreno on the attacking front. During the summer window, boys like Nicolas Pepe (ex-Lille), Ayoze Perez (Bétis), Sergi Cardona (Las Palmas, free), Arnau Sola (on loan from Almeria), the Frenchman Willy Kambwala (Manchester United), Pape Gueye (ex-OM), starting goalkeeper Conde (Leganes), Logan Costa (Toulouse), Barry Thierno (FC Basel) and Junior Reims (Famalicao) have signed with the Yellow Submarine. In terms of departures, Hassan Haissem was transferred to Real Oviedo (D2), Manu Trigueros went there to Granada (free), Jorge Cuenca to Fulham, Sörloth to Atlético (also scorer against Villarreal during J1), Aissa Mandi in Lille (free), goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen in Chelsea, without forgetting the Chilean Ben Breteton Diaz in Southampton or the definitive departure of Mojica to Mallorca and the veteran Pepe Reina to Calcio Como de Fabregas (coach). Little seen last year (9 caps in the elite), Altimira decided to go to Leganes on loan to get more playing time in La Liga.