Valencia

The Bats were beaten 2-1 on Saturday by Osasuna on home soil. Carlos Soler (83’ P.) scored Valencia’s only goal from the penalty spot after Los Rojillos hit the back of the net twice through Ezequiel Ávila (50' P.) and Ante Budimir (74'). The defeat saw Valencia drop one spot down the table from 9th to 10th place after they failed to earn a point. The Bats have 42 points from 10W, 12D, and 10L and the form "DWDDL" ahead of this local derby against Villarreal. Seven points adrift of the Yellow Submarine, the Bats are also vying for European places at the end of the season. At the weekend, José Bordalás lined up the 4—4—2 with Gonçalo Guedes and Hugo Duro in attack for the clash against Osasuna. Following the defeat, Los Murciélagos could switch to the 4—1—4—1 formation, leaving Gonçalo Guedes at the top of the shape.

Last weekend, Valencia picked up a 2-1 defeat to Deportivo Alavés at the Mendizorrotza Stadium. A goal from Mamadou Loum (14') saw Alaves take the lead inside the first fifteen minutes. Two minutes past the hour mark, Valencia found the leveler from the spot through Goncalo Guedes (62' P.). Both sides remained at parity until Joselu (76' P.) struck from the spot to restore the lead for Deportivo Alavés. The defeat leaves the Bats without a victory in five Liga games: LDLDL, having slipped to 12th place after failing to earn a point last weekend. Valencia has 30 points from 7W, 9D, & 8L, and are looking to return to winning ways at the end of the weekend. However, a draw would be a fine result for José Bordalás considering his side’s torrid form, which leaves them with only two points from a possible 15. The club has failed to win in their last three home LaLiga fixtures [0W, 2D, & 1L], with the last two ending in draws. The last time the Bats drew three or more games on home soil was back in October 2018 (5), under former boss Marcelino García Toral. A 4—4—2 formation with Hugo Duro and Goncalo Guedes is expected in attack from José Bordalás for this fixture against Barcelona.

The Bats picked up a 2-1 win over Cadiz in Wednesday's quarter-final Copa del Rey clash and will now face Athletic Club in the first leg of the semi-final scheduled for Thursday, February 10. Back on LaLiga soil, Valencia picked up a disappointing defeat to Atlético Madrid despite having a two-goal lead at the break. Goals from Musah (25') and Hugo Duro (44’) saw Valencia in cruise control before the break. However, goals from Cunha (64'), Angel Correa (90'), and Mario Hermoso (90'+3) in extra-time saw Valencia lose 3-2 in the five-goal thriller. The defeat leaves Valencia with only four points out of a possible 15 in five games and without a league win in four LaLiga games: WLLDL. In addition, the loss against the league champions saw the club slip from 9th to 10th place, having failed to pick up a point on Matchday 22. The Bats have 29 points from 7W, 8D, & 7L, and a victory for José Bordalás’ side could see Valencia reclaim lost ground. On the numbers, the club has a goal ratio of 1.59 g.p.g. this season, having scored 35 goals in 22 LaLiga games. The Bats have conceded 36 goals (an average of 1.64 goals conceded per game) and have a G.D. of -1. A 4—4—2 formation with Hugo Duro and Gonçalo Guedes in attack is expected from José Bordalás for this fixture against Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, the Bats are coming off the back of a 1-1 draw against Sevilla. An own goal from Mouctar Diakhaby (7' O.G.) inside the first ten minutes left Sevilla in front at the Mestalla stadium, before Gonçalo Guedes (44') found the leveler for Valencia just before half-time. The club remains in 9th place on the La Liga table, having picked up 29 points from 7W, 8D, and 6L. The Bats are without a victory in three games and have the form: WWLLD, ahead of this fixture against the Spanish champions. Valencia has scored 33 goals in 21 La Liga games and are left with a goal ratio of 1.57 goals per game. This season, Los Murciélagos have conceded just as many goals and have a G.D. of 0. Against Atletico Madrid, José Bordalás could start with a defensive 5—3—2 formation, leaving Hugo Duro and Gonçalo Guedes, who has eight goals for the club, in attack.

Following the 1-0 Copa del Rey win over CD Atlético Baleares on Sunday, the Bats return for this midweek fixture against the Sevillistas, aiming to pick up an unlikely win and move inside the top-ten. Last time out, Valencia picked up a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the league leaders, Real Madrid, in their previous domestic episode. Unimpressive in the first half of the season, Valencia dropped further down the table, moving from 9th to 10th place after the defeat to the Whites. The club has 28 points from 7W, 7D, and 6L, coupled with a form that leaves them with back-to-back defeats: WWWLL, ahead of this fixture against Sevilla. José Bordalás adopted a 3—4—1—2 formation with Marcos André and Hugo Duro in attack for Sunday’s Copa del Rey win over Atlético Baleares. However, a switch back to the 4—4—2 seen against Madrid is expected for Wednesday's game. COVID-hit, Valencia could be without as many as six players for this mid-week's fixture against Sevilla.

Following the 2-1 loss to Espanyol last Friday, Valencia dropped one spot lower on the table, moving from 8th to 9th place. The club has 28 points from 7W, 7D, and 5L, coupled with a form that reads: DWWWL, ahead of this fixture against Real Madrid. The Bats will be coming off a Copa del Rey 2-1 win over FC Cartagena earlier in the week. A goal from Carlos Soler (35’) and a stoppage-time winner from Denis Cheryshev (90’+3) saw the Bats take flight into the next round of the competition. Last time out, against FC Cartagena, José Bordalás adopted an attacking 4—3—3 formation. However, a switch back to the 4—4—2 seen against Espanyol is expected for Saturday’s game against Real Madrid. Hugo Duro [82' R.] picked up a red card in the game against Espanyol and is suspended for this weekend’s fixture.

Valencia moved up by a spot, from 11th to 10th place, after the 2-0 win over Villarreal in last Saturday's clash at the Mestalla Stadium. The game saw a single goal in each forty-five. Hugo Guillamon (43') broke the deadlock, two minutes to the stroke of half-time, and gave Valencia the lead. Minutes later, both sides walked off the pitch, leaving 31,487 spectators behind after referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero blew the half-time whistle with the Bats having a narrow lead. Midway through the second half, Carlos Soler (77' P.) doubled the lead for the Bats from twelve yards, in what would be the final goal of the game. Valencia returned to winning ways with the victory, the first in five LaLiga games: DLDLW. Happy with the win, Pepe Bordalás will aim for another when the Bats welcome the Spanish Champions to the Mestalla Stadium on Sunday while having 16 points after 12 games, 4W, 4D, & 4L. Taking a closer look at Valencia’s performance in the final third, the club has a tally of 18 goals but conceded 17 times and are left with a G.D. of +1. Pepe Bordalás could utilize the 4—1—4—1 formation again, with Gonçalo Guedes taking on goal-scoring responsibilities. On availability, Thierry Correia remains doubtful for this game, having been sidelined with a muscle injury, with no return date set by the club.

Valencia dropped by a spot - from 10th to 11th place - on the Spanish LaLiga table, following the 4-1 defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. Gabriel Paulista (39’) had cut Valencia’s two-goal deficit down to one before two more goals in the second half by Betis saw the Bats leave the Benito Villamarín with their second defeat in five games: DDLDL. Without a win in five attempts, Pepe Bordalás will try again on Saturday to pick up three points when this fine opportunity to sink the Yellow Submarine presents itself. The Bats have 13 points after 11 games; 3W, 4D, & 4L. Taking a closer look at Valencia’s performance in the final third, the club has a tally of 16 goals but has conceded 17 times and are left with a G.D. of -1. Pepe Bordalás’ 4—4—2 formation could see the duo consisting of Marcos André and Hugo Duro in attack for this fixture against Villarreal. Thierry Correia remains doubtful for this game, having been sidelined with a muscle injury, with no return date set by the club.

Valencia is in 8th place on the Spanish LaLiga table with 12 points after 8 games; 3W, 3D, and 2L. Before the international break, Valencia picked up a goalless draw against Cadiz CF at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday, October 2nd. The Bats were unable to find a way through despite having 4 shots in 16 on target. Valencia had the lion’s share in ball possession, 69%, while putting 523 passes together before the end of the game. After back-to-back draws, WLLDD, Valencia will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday when they visit Camp Nou. Valencia have a tally of 12 goals but have conceded 8 times and are left with a G.D. of +4. Pepe Bordalás’ 4—4—2 formation could see the duo consisting of Marcos André and Gonçalo Guedes in attack when Valencia takes on Barcelona on Sunday. Thierry Correia and Carlos Soler remain doubtful for this fixture.

Valencia is third in LaLiga with 10 points after 5 games; 3W, 1D, and 1L. On Sunday, Valencia picked up their very first defeat of the season despite having the lead in the 66th minute. Both sides had seen a few clear-cut chances at both ends, but it was the Bats who drew first blood, after Hugo Duro (66’) fired a low left-footed shot which found its way into goal. But Vinicius (86'), who had made a short prayer before kick-off, probably for luck, had his prayers answered late in the second half. His right-footed shot had the keeper sold after a huge deflection redirected the ball from left to right. At 1-1 and with slightly over four minutes left to play, the iconic center-forward in the shape of Karim Benzema (88') added another goal to his haul as he condemned Valencia to their first loss of the season: WDWWL. With the defeat aside, Pepe Bordalás’ side is in fine form, bowing only to Madrid’s superior quality. Julen Lopetegui, along with the rest of the crop, will have their work cut out when the Bats come flying to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. A 4—4—2 formation with Gomez and Guedes is anticipated in attack when Valencia takes on Sevilla on Wednesday. Focusing on injuries, Denis Cheryshev is ruled out with a knee injury while Carlos Soler is in doubt for this fixture.