Valencia must hit ground running in European bid
Valencia and Levante will contest the third game of the La Liga resumption in the late kickoff on Friday evening with 11 matches remaining for every team. The Mates are strong favourites in front of an empty Mestalla, such that they experienced when they were dumped out of the Champions League by Atalanta on the brink of the season’s suspension. 44-year-old former Real Madrid midfielder Albert Celades is under pressure to secure European football once again, the hosts are in seventh place, sitting three points behind Atletico Madrid, occupying the final qualification spot, they have some ground to make up. Levante are in a secure mid table position in their bid to maintain topflight status for a third consecutive season.
Background
Aside from some highs in the Champions League it has been a poor campaign in results and performances from the Mates, such is the pressure on the team to kickstart their season into life upon La Liga’s resumption. In the expected goals table Valencia fall as low as 12th for underlying process, demonstrating arguably a false position in seventh. Levante however are also punching above their weight according to xG they would be in the relegation zone with almost six less points when instead they find themselves eight points clear of the drop. Something that could change very quickly as the fixtures come thick and fast.
Key men
The outstanding talent of these two’s rosters has to be Valencia stalwart Dani Parejo. The 31-year-old and former Queens Park Rangers loanee is approaching 400 appearances for the Mates, contributing 63 goals and 62 assists from often deep lying midfield, along with nine strikes and six set ups this term. A dead ball specialist and leader in the dressing room, can dictate play on Wednesday evening, with Levante certainly the less gifted side in possession.
Marti Roger’s form in front of goal has been one of the key themes in the Frogs’ armoury in 2019/20. They have won more games than any team in the bottom 11, scoring more than top half outfits like Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid. Roger’s finishing ability has him in joint-third in the scoring charts, bagging 11 from chances worthy of just 8.9 xG. More goals for an unfashionable side than usual suspects like Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and supposedly unearthed gem Alexander Isak. Opportunities will come few and far between on Friday, Roger must be alert to them for Levante to grasp a foothold.
Valencia are the stronger side and should be rejuvenated from the pause in the season to get the win against overperforming Levante.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
A 98th minute equaliser robs us of our stake. 1-1.