We have an important game in the chase for Champions League qualification in Spain this weekend as Atlético Madrid meet Valencia. The match will be played at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano and the hosts begin the weekend in 4th place on 33 points while Valencia are in 9th place on 29 points.
Atlético Madrid Come into the match on the back of a 2-0 loss at Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey on Thursday night.
⚽🔛 Empezamos a preparar el encuentro contra el Valencia pic.twitter.com/zccaNIZVoH— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) January 20, 2022
⚽🔛 Empezamos a preparar el encuentro contra el Valencia pic.twitter.com/zccaNIZVoH
Atlético Madrid fell a goal behind in the 33rd minute and Real Sociedad added a second goal early in the second half to dent the hopes of any comeback for Atlético Madrid.
That was a second successive defeat in all competitions for Atlético Madrid who lost 2-1 against Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup.
Looking specifically at league form and Atlético Madrid have been struggling to win games in La Liga.
Trends show Atlético Madrid have recorded just a single victory from their 6 most recent matches in the league and that came at home against Rayo Vallecano.
However, home form in La Liga shows Atlético Madrid are difficult to beat and they have suffered just a single defeat in their last 16 league fixtures at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, winning 3 of their last 4.
Atlético Madrid have kept a clean sheet in 3 of their last 4 home La Liga games and scored in each of their last 6.
Valencia make the trip to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano having been held to a 1-1 draw at home last time out in the league by Sevilla.
Valencia fell a goal behind after only 7 minutes but scored the equaliser just before half-time. That result came on the back of a 1-0 victory at Atlético Baleares in the Copa Del Rey.
Form in the league shows Valencia have failed to win any of their last 3 matches. In addition to the draw at home against Sevilla, they have lost 4-1 at Real Madrid and 2-1 at home against Espanyol.
However, Valencia are undefeated in 3 of their 4 most recent away La Liga fixtures, picking up wins at Celta Vigo and Levante plus a point at Real Sociedad.
Trends show Valencia have seen both teams score in 5 of their last 6 away league games.
Team news and Atlético Madrid will be without suspended midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia. Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann are injured.
Valencia travel without Maximiliano Gómez and Daniel Wass due to COVID-19. Jasper Cillessen, Carlos Soler, and Gabriel Paulista are on the treatment table.
Valencia can score goals on the road in La Liga and they should find the back of the net in this game. However, Atlético Madrid are tough to beat on home soil and we expect to see the hosts take maximum points, with over 2.5 goals scored.