The bottom two in the La Liga table will lock horns for a vital contest on Friday evening, with Real Valladolid welcoming Valencia to Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
Real Valladolid have only picked up nine points from their 16 league matches this season, which has left them bottom on nine points, while Valencia are 19th, having collected only 10 points from their opening 14 games.
Match preview
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Alvaro Rubio remains in charge of Real Valladolid on an interim basis following the exit of Paulo Pezzolano, and he is set to lead the team for a third time on Friday night, but a permanent replacement for the recently-departed head coach may be appointed over the weekend.
Diego Cocca, who was most recently in charge of Mexico in 2023, will allegedly pen a deal until the end of the campaign, and the 52-year-old faces a tough task when it comes to keeping the White and Violets in the division.
The promoted outfit have a record of two wins, three draws and 11 defeats from their 16 league matches this season, which has left them bottom of the table on nine points, six points from the safety of 17th position.
Real Valladolid have comfortably the worst defensive record in La Liga this season, conceding 34 times in their 16 matches, and they will enter this match off the back of another defeat, going down 2-1 to Las Palmas last weekend.
Pucela actually beat Valencia 1-0 in the corresponding match during the 2022-23 La Liga campaign, so they will be aiming to make it successive home victories over Los Che when the sides lock horns on Friday.
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Valencia, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano, with the result leaving them in 19th spot in the table on 10 points, and they have won just twice in Spain's top flight this term.
Los Che have two games in hand on Real Valladolid, while they also have two spare on 17th-placed Leganes, who are five points ahead, so it is not quite time to hit the panic button, but it has been a tough start to the campaign.
Ruben Baraja's side have struggled for goals, netting only 13 times, which is the second-worst record in the division behind Getafe and Real Valladolid (both 11), suggesting that this will be a low-scoring affair.
Valencia's away form has also been disappointing, picking up just two points from seven matches, but Real Valladolid have only managed to win one of their eight games in front of their own fans this term.
The six-time Spanish champions finished ninth last term, and a top-half finish could still be achievable this season considering their squad, but Baraja's team desperately need to find a spell of consistency.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will again be without the services of Selim Amallah due to a muscular problem, while Kenedy and Raul Moro are unlikely to be involved due to muscular issues.
The home side will also have to work around the absence of Eray Comert, with the centre-back suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up in the defeat to Las Palmas.
Juma Bah should benefit to return to the middle of the defence, but Marcos Andre is set to keep his spot in the final third of the field, with the number nine on the scoresheet last time out.
As for Valencia, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jose Gaya, Dimitri Foulquier, Maximiliano Caufriez, Ruben Iranzo, Thierry Correia and Mouctar Diakhaby are all unavailable for selection through injury.
Jesus Vazquez is expected to benefit from Gaya's injury to feature as the left-sided wing-back, while Pepelu is also set to return to the side, which could see Javi Guerra move into a wide area.
Hugo Duro has four goals in La Liga this season and will lead the line once again, with Rafa Mir, Sergi Canos and Andre Almeida set to be the attacking options in reserve on Friday night.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; L Perez, Bah, J Sanchez, Rosa; I Sanchez, Martin, Juric, K Perez, Sylla; Andre
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; D Lopez, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Vazquez; Rioja, Barrenechea, Pepelu, Guerra; Duro
We say: Real Valladolid 0-1 Valencia
Both of these sides desperately need a win, and we are backing Valencia to secure a huge three points on Friday night. Real Valladolid have only scored five times in their eight home league matches this term, and we can see Los Che navigating their way to a victory at Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
