Atletico Madrid vs Valencia
With no Champions League or Cup matches left, Los Rojiblancos only have the La Liga to focus on.
Atletico Madrid are currently in third place with 48 points, but that’s 17 points away from table leaders Barcelona, although they’re in great shape to secure a Champions League berth for next season because they’ve been undefeated in the league since the end of January.
Diego Simeone’s side will host a Valencia squad that is desperate to get out of their predicament. Los Ches have won two of their last three games, but they’re in 17th place, tied with 18th-placed Getafe with 26 points.
With 13 matchdays left, Valencia are in must-win mode virtually every game, and they must defy the SBOTOP betting odds to avoid the drop.
Talking Points
La Roja recruiting Atleti’s stars for good reason
Atletico Madrid are going to be well-represented in the upcoming international break, as Spain have picked four of their key players: Koke, Marcos Llorente, Alvaro Morata, and Mario Hermoso.
Koke and Llorente have been key cogs in Atleti’s midfield, while Morata is the team’s top scorer with 10 goals this season, and he was one of Spain’s heroes during the 2022 World Cup. Mario Hermoso, on the other hand, has emerged as one of the best La Liga defenders this year.
Hermoso has turned his career around at Atletico Madrid because he’s now a regular starter. Last season, the 27-year-old defender fell out of Diego Simeone’s favour because of his poor defence, and some of the fans turned against him.
But with Stefan Savic showing his age, Hermoso was slotted back in as a starting centre-back, and he has made the most of his new opportunity. Since the 2022 World Cup, Hermoso has logged over 1,200 minutes, starting 14 times.
Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa have been in fine form too, and they are the second- and third-leading scorers behind Morata, with 14 goals and 10 assists combined.
Memphis Depay is another guy to look out for if you’re Valencia. After seeing his playing time dwindle following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou, Depay is now enjoying his time at the Civitas Metropolitano, notching three goals in just six matches.
Kluivert can be the key for Valencia
After a forgettable run at AS Roma, Justin Kluivert is doing much better in Valencia. And he should get more opportunities moving forward, especially with Edinson Cavani out of their last four matches due to injury.
Kluivert scored the only goal in last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Osasuna, as the Dutchman lashed the ball into the top corner after a cross. That goal was massive since it gave them three points that moved them up to 17th.
Kluivert may only stand at 5’7”, but he is quick, and he can handle the ball well. He is just 23 years old, so he still has a lot of time to develop.
He has formed a great front partnership with Samu Castillejo and Hugo Duro, and all three of them are looking to get into the La Liga 2023 highlights reel this weekend.
History
Atletico Madrid are undefeated in their last 16 La Liga matches against Valencia (W10, D6) since a 3-1 loss in the 2014-15 season, which is their longest ever unbeaten run against them in the competition.
And at the Civitas Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid are also unbeaten in their last 11 La Liga home games against Valencia (W7, D4) after losing five of their previous 11 at home against them in the Spanish top-flight (W4, D2).
Valencia have yet to win in their last 18 La Liga away matches against clubs from the Madrid community (D4, L14) since a 1-0 win over Getafe in November 2018, which is their longest winless run away from home against such teams in the Spanish top-flight.
Atleti eked out a 1-0 victory over Valencia in their reverse fixture during the third matchday of the 2022-23 season, as Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal in the 66th minute.
Betting Tip
Atletico Madrid are expected to win at home, according to the updated La Liga 2023 odds. The hosts are priced at 1.60 to win, whereas Valencia are installed at 4.90, and chances for a draw are at 3.70 in the 1X2 market.
Valencia can surely make this competitive against Atletico Madrid, but Atleti’s winning streak over Los Ches is hard to overlook, and the hosts should be able to come away with the victory once again.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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