Valencia v Atletico Madrid Prediction: La Liga Match on 16.09.2023

The new La Liga campaign continues Saturday with a four-game programme. The champions are in action as Barcelona hosts Real Betis in a potential goal-fest. But the game that caught the attention of our team was Atletico Madrid’s trip to Valencia. The locals need a result after losing each of their last two while Madrid hopes to continue its unbeaten start. The pressure is on the home dressing room, but will they deliver?

Madrid scored back-to-back wins over Valencia last season, ending with a 4-0 aggregate score. We must go to October 2014 for the last home win in this fixture and that explains why Atletico fans travel from Madrid with confidence. The trends go against Valencia but the home crowd hopes to turn the tide, making this an interesting game for armchair fans.

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Valencia suffers two defeats

The 2023 season has given Valencia fans a mixed bag of results with the home team claiming six of the dozen points available. They sprinted out of the starting blocks, winning each of their first two games to catapult themselves into contention for the major places. Fans allowed themselves to dream of a successful season spent chasing the major places, but that dream quickly unravelled. The locals have now won two and lost two, sinking down the pecking order as a result. They started the week in 11th after back-to-back defeats followed by a pair of wins.

The locals started the month with a trip to Alaves and after winning two of their previous three games, many pundits picked Valencia to get something from the game. Taking a point on the road is a decent result most weeks, but Valencia fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Alaves. The winning goal was scored by Ozkzacar who knocked the ball into his own net on six minutes. Valencia had chances to get level but lacked composure in the final third to turn chances into goals.

Madrid unbeaten in three

While most teams around them have played four games, Atletico Madrid have only three games on the board, but remain unbeaten with two wins and a draw. All three La Liga games were played in August with Madrid getting off to a winning start thanks to a 3-1 home victory over Granada. It was a game Madrid were favourites to win and they lived up to expectations, scoring two late goals to bag the points. The game was a little closer than the bare result suggests with Llorente netting in 98 minutes.

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Following that strong home win over Granada, Atletico went to Europa League representatives Real Betis and ended goalless. Both teams had chances to win the game but it was a frustrating outing for all involved, including players, coaches and the fans who expected Madrid to pick up where they left off against Granada. We last saw Madrid in action when crushing Rayo Vallecano 7-0 on the road in what was a real show of strength from the team and a statement of intent to the competition. Madrid means business.

Valencia v Atletico Madrid prediction

Valencia is a strong team but one lacking consistency. Fans can never be too sure what to expect from their team. Will it be the Valencia we saw in the opening two games when they eased to the points and were too strong for their opponents. Or the Valencia that lost their last two and are in danger of dropping down towards the danger zone? Valencia blows hot and cold, but which version will we see on matchday?

Madrid is capable of challenging for the major places this season. They are playing catch up on the rest of the division on games played, but they’re unbeaten in three and are capable of grabbing an away win at a tricky venue. Madrid is the away team but if they are at their best, they’re good enough to grab all three points and continue putting pressure on the teams above them in La Liga.

La Liga odds

The pre-match betting odds available today at 22bet has Valencia priced at 3.84 to claim a home win while victory for the visitors is 2.04. Another away day draw for Madrid won’t help their cause much, but the level finish may appeal to some bettors with 3.3 available.

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