One of the biggest fixtures on the La Liga calendar will take place at the famous Mestalla Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Valencia welcoming Atletico Madrid.
Valencia are currently 11th in the table, picking up six points from their opening four matches of the new season, while Atletico are fourth, boasting seven points from three games this term.
Match preview
© Reuters
Valencia had a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, finishing 16th in the table, which proved to be their lowest final spot in Spain's top flight since being relegated to the second tier back in 1987.
Los Che are far from the team that regularly finished in the Champions League positions, with their last four final positions in La Liga proving to be ninth, 13th, ninth and 16th.
Ruben Baraja's side started their 2023-24 campaign impressively, beating Sevilla and Las Palmas in back-to-back matches, but they have since lost their last two against Osasuna and Alaves.
Valencia sit 11th in the table, boasting six points from four matches, and it is difficult to imagine them pushing for a potential European position this term due to the obvious lack of depth in their squad.
Los Che have actually not beaten Atletico in La Liga since October 2014, losing five of their last six games against the Red and Whites, including a 1-0 reverse at Mestalla last season.
© Reuters
Atletico have only played three league matches this season, as their contest with Sevilla before the international break was postponed due to exceptionally heavy rain in the Madrid area.
As a result, Diego Simeone's side have not been in action since thumping Rayo Vallecano 7-0 at the end of August, which moved them onto seven points for the season.
The Red and Whites opened their 2023-24 campaign with a 3-1 success over Granada before picking up a welcome point away to Real Betis, and they are now preparing for their third away game of the season.
Atletico's attention will then quickly shift to the Champions League, with Simeone's team preparing to travel to Italy for their group-stage opener against Lazio on Tuesday night.
The capital outfit finished bottom of their Champions League group last term, so the supporters will be demanding an improvement in Europe this season, while there is also the small matter of a Madrid derby at home to Real Madrid to come next weekend.
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Valencia will again be without the services of Gabriel Paulista, Alberto Mari and Samu Castillejo for Saturday's contest due to injury problems.
Los Che are otherwise in good shape, and head coach Baraja is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the narrow defeat to Alaves last time out.
There might be a change in a wide area, though, with Sergi Canos battling to be involved from the first whistle, and the summer arrival could potentially support Andre Almeida and Hugo Duro in the final third.
Atletico, meanwhile, have a fairly lengthy injury list at this moment in time, with Vitolo, Samuel Lino, Memphis Depay, Koke, Jose Gimenez and Reinildo all on the sidelines.
Yannick Carrasco has also left for Saudi Arabia since the team's last match, while Lino's absence could open the door for Saul Niguez to feature as the left-sided wing-back.
Alvaro Morata hit a brace off the bench against Rayo last time out and should now feature alongside Antoine Griezmann in attack, while Marcos Llorente is also set to be given the nod in central midfield.
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Diakhaby, Ozkacar, Gaya; Correia, Guerra, Pepelu, Canos; Almeida, Duro
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Savic, Witsel, Hermoso, Saul; De Paul, Barrios, Llorente; Griezmann, Morata
We say: Valencia 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico were stunning against Rayo last time out, and while we are not predicting a similar outcome here, the capital giants should have enough quality to secure another three points against a Valencia side that have been disappointing in their last two matches.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
