After taking a break for the holiday, Spain’s La Liga season resumes on Friday with a game between Valencia and RCD Espanyol. Despite only sitting eighth in the table at the moment, Valencia will hope to build on the momentum the Bats built up before the break.
Meanwhile, Espanyol has had to wait two weeks stewing over a 3-1 loss to Celta Vigo the last time the Parakeets took the field.
Valencia vs Espanyol Betting Preview
Valencia Preview: Can Bats Reignite Pre-Break Momentum
Valencia was one of the few teams in Spain that wasn’t looking forward to the Christmas break. The bats are currently 5-0 during the month of December across all competitions. They are also unbeaten in nine straight matches dating back to late October, including four wins and three draws in the club’s seven La Liga matches during that span.
The offense has exploded during the past month, with the Bats scoring 14 goals over their last five games. The caveat is that two of those games were against weaker opponents in the Spanish Copa del Rey. However, Valencia did put four goals past last-place Levante in a league game right before the break.
Despite sitting eighth in the standings, Valencia has scored the third most goals in La Liga this season, finding the back of the net 30 times in 18 games. The Bats currently have three players who have scored at least five goals this year. That includes Carlos Soler, who leads the way with seven goals in just 14 matches, including two in the win over Levante.
Espanyol Preview: Is There a Turnaround Coming?
For a club that was just promoted to La Liga after winning Segunda Division last season, Espanyol should be satisfied with sitting 11th in the standings around the midway point of the season. The Parakeets have also continued to advance in the Spanish Copa del Rey. However, they’ve also lost two of their last three La Liga games, including a 3-1 loss to Celta Vigo, which sits below them in the standings.
Compared to Valencia, the Parakeets have scored ten fewer goals this season, managing just 20 goals in 18 games. Espanyol has become far too dependent on striker Raul de Tomas for the team’s offense. The 27-year-old has eight of those 20 goals and is the only Espanyol player with more than two goals this season.
Unfortunately, de Tomas has been in a slump lately, scoring just once in his last five La Liga appearances. The Parakeets have been shut out twice during that stretch, scoring just twice outside of a 4-3 win over last-place Levante. If the Espanyol defense isn’t able to remain stout, the Parakeets tend to struggle unless de Tomas can carry them.
Who to Bet on Espanyol at Valencia
The latest betting odds list Valencia as heavy favorites at home with a moneyline of -144 compared to Espanyol’s moneyline of +380 and a moneyline of +270 for a draw. Given Valencia’s form before the break, they are a safe bet to pick up where they left off.
While there isn’t a ton of value at -144, Valencia has a clear advantage over an Espanyol side that’s dependent on a single player.
If you love sports betting subscribe to our Insiders Betting Digest mailing list and receive free betting picks weekly.