Valencia - Atletico Madrid (06.03.2016)
Bet of the Day is picked from Spain and la Liga, and the fantastic Estadio Mestalla. The home team Valencia welcomes second placed Atletico Madrid. This is Gary Neville vs Diego Simeone. Valencia has performed better the last couple of weeks, after a horrible start of the league season, while Atletico is continuing winning and doesn't concede goals.
Gary Neville's Valencia is on a disappointing 9th place in the league, the home stats shows poor 4-7-2 at Mestalla. After a 8-1 exit (over two legs) against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, it's now the league in focus for Valencia. Are through to the next round in Europa League after a 10-0 (two matches) win over Rapid Wien, but this tournament isn't the priority for Neville's men. In the last league matches they won against Granada 1-2, lost against Athletic Bilbao 0-3 and took a quite strong 1-2 win against Malaga.
Many will describe the last couple of weeks as a turning point for Valencia, and the results will keep getting better, but the opponents in the last weeks hasn't been the strongest, a big test is ahead of Neville for tonight as they face the «Rojiblancos» from Madrid. Valencia meets an opponent that is difficult to play against, and a massive task to try to break down/create chances against. Zakaria Bakkali (midfield) is injured for the hosts, while Jose Gaya (defender) is suspended.
Diego Simeone keeps on cultivating Atletico's style of play. The team seems comfortable in any match scenarios, their passing rate is good and their defense are quite amazing. The red and white from Madrid sits on a 2nd place in the league, and the away stats shows great 10-1-3. Have only conceded 5 goals in their 14 away matches, that's impressing and gives an average of 0,35 goals conceded each away match.
The back four with Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin and Filippe Luis have been rock solid this season, Diego Simeone's first priority is to create a strong and safe defensive line...His job is done. Especially 30 years old Diego Godin has been the most impressing at the back, and must be concidering as on of the best centre backs in Europe this season.
The away side was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo, and since then they've lost 2-1 against Barcelona. Thereafter wins against Eibar and Getafe, 0-0 home against Villarreal and a very strong 0-1 win against rivals Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. In their last match the easily won 3-0 at home against Real Sociedad. Tiago (midfield) and Stefan Savic (defender) are out injured for the guests, while Augusto Fernandez (midfield) is suspended.
Expected lineup Atletico Madrid:
Oblak
Juanfran – Gimenez – Godin – Filipe Luis
Koke – Gabi – Ferreira-Carrasco – Niguez
Vietto – Griezmann
We're surprised over the odds value for a Atletico win, at the moment at 2.00 (1/1), and an away win is without doubt our Bet of the Day. Regardless of how Gary Neville and his Valencia will approach this game, they will face challenges. No one dare to press too high up field against Atletico because of the spaces left behind in the back, at the same time Valencia will have problems breaking through a tight and disciplined back four of Atletico.
