Two sides at the opposite end of La Liga will meet this weekend as Valencia look to move forward and break into the top five before 2022 while Elche attempt to distance themselves from relegation with every game they play.
As of now, Fran Escribá's side are currently 16th in the table and are in fact in a decent spell of form right now. A 3-0 defeat to Real Betis came a few weeks back, but three games unbeaten have since followed which also saw them advance into the second round of the Copa del Rey against Leioa.
🔙 #TBTControl con la derecha ⚽Media vuelta ↩️Y disparo con la izquierda 💥No había reto imposible para @Guaje7Villa#ADNVCF 🦇 pic.twitter.com/g5IDWcvVYS— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) December 9, 2021
🔙 #TBTControl con la derecha ⚽Media vuelta ↩️Y disparo con la izquierda 💥No había reto imposible para @Guaje7Villa#ADNVCF 🦇 pic.twitter.com/g5IDWcvVYS
Back in La Liga, however, they drew with Osasuna away from home which is not the worst result, but in a must-not-lose battle to avoid being sucked further into relegation against Cadiz. Elche won 3-1, thanks to goals from Fidel Chaves, Tete Morente, and Jose Pomares.
Such results now put them on a three-game win streak and with more hope than they’ve had all season to stay up and avoid relegation.
On the other hand though, the club still have the joint-second worst defensive record for clubs outside of the bottom three, as they've managed to let in 22 goals in 16 games and win only three games thus far, which again, a joint-second league worst for those outside the drop zone.
More alarmingly, however, is their goals scored record. Elche have netted just 15 goals in 16 clashes inside La Liga, and considering three of these goals came last time out, their xG and goals to game ratio is one of the worst in the Spanish top flight.
Valencia, however, are improving weekly at the moment and gradually reviving their top five hopes, despite the likelihood that they achieve this in the long run up against the likes of Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Sociedad.
As of now, Valencia sit eighth in the table but with just five wins from 16 meetings in La Liga, the club have also seen 22 goals conceded and 24 go in the opposite end, which although not a negative goal difference, shows too much inferiority throughout the pitch when compared to those above them in the table.
Nevertheless, Valencia are on a five-match unbeaten streak, having beat Celta Vigo recently and Utrillas in the Copa del Rey. Further draws would come against Rayo Vallecano, Sociedad and Atletico, which although nothing to boast about, showed drastic improvements and fight for the top five.
Forebet predicts Valencia to win here, as their form looks too good right now against a side still fighting relegation, however, Forebet also predicts over 2.5 goals.