Two teams at opposite ends of the La Liga table will lock horns for a huge match on Saturday evening, with relegation-threatened Valencia welcoming title-challenging Atletico Madrid to Mestalla.
Valencia are 18th in Spain's top flight, level on points with 17th-placed Las Palmas, while Atletico are third, one point behind both second-placed Real Madrid and division leaders Barcelona.
Match preview
© Imago
Valencia are facing a first relegation from Spain's top flight since 1986, and there is no question that it would be one of the biggest shocks in La Liga history if the six-time Spanish champions dropped into the second tier.
Los Che have a record of five wins, eight draws and 11 defeats from their 24 league matches this season to collect 23 points, which has left them in 18th spot in the table, level on points with 17th-placed Las Palmas.
Carlos Corberan's side are actually unbeaten in their last three league matches, picking up seven points in the process, beating Celta Vigo and Leganes at home before drawing 1-1 away to Villarreal last time out.
Valencia have just one defeat from their last six, meanwhile, so there are encouraging signs in their battle against the drop, and they recorded a 3-0 victory over Atletico in the corresponding game between the two sides last term.
Atletico have since beaten Valencia twice, though, including a 3-0 success in the reverse game at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this season, and Diego Simeone's side will be determined to return to winning ways on Saturday.
© Imago
Atletico picked up a strong point away to Real Madrid in the Madrid derby on February 8, but they certainly dropped two points against Celta Vigo last time out, being held to a 1-1 draw at Wanda Metropolitano.
The Red and Whites actually had Pablo Barrios sent off in just the seventh minute of that contest before Iago Aspas sent Celta ahead from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, but Alexander Sorloth came off the bench to level nine minutes from time.
Atletico have a record of 14 wins, eight draws and two defeats from their 24 league matches this season, with 50 points leaving them third in the table, one point behind both second-placed Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona.
Simeone's side are in action before the top two this weekend, so they will have the chance to move to the summit on Saturday evening, before Barcelona take on Las Palmas, while Real Madrid will be in action on Sunday against Girona.
Atletico have only won five of their 11 away league matches this season, and that record will need to improve if they are to finish at the top of the pile this season; Valencia, on the other hand, have picked up 18 points from their 12 games on home soil.
Team News
© Imago
Valencia remain without the services of Thierry Correia due to a serious knee injury, but Los Che are otherwise in excellent shape for their clash with Atletico on Saturday evening.
Enzo Barrenechea will come back into the side after serving a suspension against Villarreal last time out, with Luis Rioja potentially the player to drop out for Los Che here.
Andre Almeida is expected to keep hold of his spot in a wide position, while there will be another start through the middle for Hugo Duro, who has scored seven times in Spain's top flight this season.
As for Atletico, Barrios will miss the contest through suspension, having been sent off against Celta last time out, while Samuel Lino is a doubt with the issue that forced him off early in the same match.
Sorloth again scored off the bench against Celta, making it nine league goals for the campaign, but he remains out of Simeone's first XI, with Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez again set to feature as the front two.
Lino's likely absence will open the door for Conor Gallagher to come into the starting side; Koke is the favourite to start in central midfield, meanwhile, but the Spaniard will have to prove that he has overcome a slight knock.
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; D Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Pepelu, Almeida; Duro
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
We say: Valencia 1-2 Atletico Madrid
This is a really interesting match, and Valencia will be confident of picking up a positive result considering their recent form at home. Atletico will be desperate to avoid a third straight match without a victory in the league, though, and we are backing Simeone's side to navigate their way to a hugely important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
