* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
See you later 2021 you absolute git. You’ve not been as bad as 2020 but that’s not exactly saying much, is it? New Year’s Eve brings optimism, excitement, sore heads and, recently, genuine thoughts about what’s around the corner. Who knows, maybe 2022 will be the best year in recorded history?
Let’s not get carried away. One thing I do know for sure is that it’s left to our friends over in La Liga to se us through to 2022 with glad tidings as Valencia have an NYE party round theirs with Espanyol on the guest list.
HELLO FROM PADDY POWER NEWS!
It’s an interesting match up with both sides in the hunt for European football. Valencia are 8th and have won three on the bounce taking them to nine unbeaten while the wildly inconsistent Espanyol are 11th with 23 points from 18 games, having lost and then won their last seven La Liga matches.
If their consistently inconsistent run continues they’re due a win at Valencia, but their away record is so bad that it’s extremely unlikely. That’s a little hint into my first wager so, party poppers at the ready, let’s embark upon your 3 best bets for Valencia v Espanyol on Friday.
Friday 3.15pm: Valencia v Espanyol
Premier Sports 2 and LaLigaTV
Short-priced punt: Valencia to Win
As alluded to there, Espanyol are absolutely dreadful on the road. They’re second bottom of La Liga’s away table with three points from a possible 27 on their travels. They’re without a win all season and have had three draws and six losses to date.
It’s hard to see that dire record improving against Valencia who have found their groove and will fancy their chances of making it 10 unbeaten here on Friday. Their home record is decent with four wins, four draws and just the one loss against champions-elect Real Madrid back at the start of the season. Valencia to Win has to be our first play here.
Value Play: Over 3.5 Goals
While Espanyol games had been pretty low scoring at the start of the season things have really opened up recently. In their last five games in all competitions they’ve seen 20 goals at an average of four a game.
For Valencia the numbers are identical, giving us a real live chance of Over 3.5 Goals landing in this one. Over 3.5 has come off in Valencia’s last two with it missing out by just one goal in the other three. For Espanyol it’s landed in three of their last five. Aptly, we can expect fireworks in this match.
Long Shot: Goncalo Guedes to Score First
Given the amount of goals that have been flying about when these two take to the field it’s a little surprising to see that the top scorer among the two squads has just eight goals. That’s Espanyol’s Raul de Tomas, by the way. I’m looking at Valencia, who have shared the goals about, and I think the excellent Goncalo Guedes could be the way to play.
The Portugal international has had almost twice as many shots as anyone else in the home side’s squad and has six goals from 18 appearances, ticking along at one every three games. He’s scored two in their last three games, with both being their opener, so it might be worth having a go on Goncalo Guedes to Score First.
Valencia v Espanyol tips
Short-priced punt: Valencia to Win
Value Play: Over 3.5 Goals
Long Shot: Goncalo Guedes to Score First
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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