Valencia host Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla on Friday night in La Liga. The two sides will clash in a top-seven match and a win for Los Che could see them reach the Champions League qualification places.
Atletico Madrid are one of the biggest disappointments in Spain this season. The Mattressmakers have again struggled to score goals and big offseason transfer Joao Felix has flopped in La Liga. He has scored just two goals in 17 league appearances.
Felix will miss the game at the weekend versus Valenica due to a leg injury and is unlikely to play versus Liverpool next week in the Champions League last 16 first leg. Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is running out of time at the Wanda Stadium and Mauricio Pochettino is linked to the job.
Simeone turned around the club’s fortunes with a dull, defensive style of play. However, that style is no longer winning matches, but seeing them end in stalemates. Atletico Madrid have drawn nine times in La Liga while scoring just 23 goals.
Valencia have the third-best home points total in La Liga with 26 from 36 possible. Los Che have scored 19 times while conceding just nine goals. Friday’s game should see few chances as both teams struggle to carve out scoring opportunities.
Atletico Madrid have only won three times away from home and have lost two straight road games. Unbelievably they have scored a mere eight goals in 11 away matches in 2019-20.
The two Spanish clubs drew 1-1 when they met in October in the capital. Atletico Madrid opened the scoring through a Diego Costa penalty in the 36th minute. Valencia’s Dani Parejo equalised the score in the 82nd minute to give them a share of the spoils.
Felix isn’t the only player injured at Atletico Madrid. Simeone is facing a crisis in the health department with Liverpool arriving just days after Atletico Madrid visit the Mestalla.
Diego Costa is back in training but could be saved for the Champions League. Alvaro Morata could play versus Valencia after recovering from a groin injury. Full-back Kieran Trippier underwent groin surgery this month and is out of action.
The good news is Simeone’s centre-back stopper Jose Gimenez should be fit to play against Valencia. The bad news is the attack could feature wingers Vitolo and Angel Correa as the team’s strikers if Costa and Morata cannot go.
The lack of goals in the Atletico Madrid side should see them drop points once again. Valencia will claim a draw at home as both teams find the back of the net in a low-scoring fixture.