Atletico Madrid vs Valencia
They are the two clubs who took on the established La Liga big boys last season and made them sit up and take notice.
Atletico have long been accustomed to upsetting the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid under coach Diego Simeone, and they did so again by splitting them last season to take the runners-up spot.
That Valencia created La Liga highlights of their own to seal the fourth and final Champions League spot was an equally fine achievement, made even better when they capped off a memorable campaign by lifting the Copa del Rey in memorable fashion.
Now both are ready to defy the SBOBET La Liga betting odds once again after making decent starts to 2019/2020.
Talking Points
Atletico currently occupy third spot in the league with 15 points from their first eight games.
Valencia are five places behind but only three points away in eighth spot.
So it’s quite clear both need the points as Atletico look to close the gap on leaders and city rivals Real Madrid, who they met last month.
To do that, they will need to score goals and that means Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata, Atletico Madrid’s No.9 and No.19, showing the punch they clearly have but are seriously lacking in the early stages of the new campaign.
Yes, Los Rojiblancos’ defensive reliability has them still performing as one of the elite sides in La Liga but goals are missing, scoring just seven in their eight games and if Simeone’s men are to be challenging at the top come May, they’ll need their frontmen to find form soon.
Both have one goal this season — fewer than Joao Felix — Vitolo and Thomas Partey. While injuries have impacted the two of them, that’s not enough to explain their struggles at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Their struggles focus the link with the man Simeone reportedly wanted to sign this summer.
Rodrigo was all set to leave Valencia for Atletico this summer and his failure to land the frontman left Simeone frustrated.
Sixty-seven days later, Rodrigo’s bags are packed for a trip to the capital only this time Simeone will be paying close attention to him as a threat to his own defence.
Team news is sparse as players report back from international duty but Vitolo could be fit enough to play for the hosts.
They have suffered a setback, however, with the news Stefan Savic will be out for up to four weeks with a muscle injury he picked up on international duty with Montenegro.
Apart from a defeat at Real Sociedad last month, Atletico are unbeaten with clean sheets in the four games which followed. Valencia have been beaten twice both on the road but managed to stop the rot at Bilbao before the international break.
History
In this corresponding fixture six months ago, Atletico won 3-2 when Angeal Correa scored a late winner.
Morata had opened the scoring before Kevin Gameiro equalised into the second half, Antoine Griezmann restored the hosts lead but again Valencia hit back to level through Daniel Parejo.
If goals are your thing, then perhaps this is not the game for you. The previous three meetings had produced just three goals and resulted in two draws.
Last season, on the opening day, the sides played out a 1-1 draw with Correa and Rodrigo on target.
Atletico are unbeaten in the previous nine meetings with Valencia and recorded six victories in the process.
Valencia last defeated Atletico 3-1 in October 2014. It remains their only success against them in the last 13 clashes.
Atletico and Valencia have met 44 times in total with Madrid triumphing on 17 occasions and Valencia 13. Fourteen encounters have ended all square.
Betting Tip
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Atletico Madrid vs Valencia | Atletico Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.25 |
| October 19, 22:00 (GMT+8) |
SBOBET La Liga betting odds are in favour of a home win. Atletico are priced 1X2 @ 1.68 with Valencia out @ 5.00. The draw is available @ 3.70.
Asian Handicap betting odds are similar with Atletico – 0.75 @ 1.90 and Valencia +0.50 @ 2.33.
Over 2.50 goals @ 2.13 and under 2 goals @ 2.33 suggest this may be either a low scoring game or see goals aplenty.
Double Chance Valencia or Draw @ 2.11 is the best Double Chance offer, while a repeat of last season’s encounter here – correct score 3-2 – @ 36.00 is a big ask.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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