This will be Valencia’s first game at home since the DANA storm flooded the region. In recent weeks, the Mestalla has served as a centre for donations and aid for the victims rather than a football stadium.
The team hasn’t played at the Mestalla since October 21, when they lost 2-3 to Las Palmas. A week later, they drew with Getafe (1-1).
Valencia requested the cancellation of their last four matches, as more than a thousand individuals were reported missing during the first week of the flood. The club announced that it will facilitate transport to Mestalla for storm victims.
While the reality around Valencia isn’t great, the football isn’t much better either. Valencia are last-placed, with seven points out of eleven games. Their last and only victory dates back to September 21, when Los Che defeated Girona.
The team will be without Mouctar Diakhaby, Thierry Correia, Hugo Duro and Rafa Mir. Losing Duro and Rafa Mir to injuries was a big blow to Valencia’s attack, being the team’s most important forwards. It partially explains why Valencia only scored eight goals in eleven encounters.
Real Betis are currently seventh in La Liga, with twelve points from thirteen games. The team has also managed to stay afloat in the Conference League, drawing against Copenhagen (1-1) and defeating NK Celje (2-1).
Competing in Europe has been a major challenge for a club like Real Betis, as they lack the squad depth that top clubs have. Manuel Pellegrini also had to deal with injuries to Isco and Giovanni Lo Celso, forcing him to restructure his attacking patterns. The team will also be without William Carvalho, who’s expected to only return in May 2025, due to achilles heel complications.
Their last La Liga game resulted in a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo. Javi Rodríguez scored first for Celta, but Barcelona-loaned Vitor Roque equalized in the 40th minute. The Galicians thought they had the last word when Anastasios Douvikas scored in the 82nd minute, but Marc Barta equalized in the last minute of extra time.
Real Betis rarely keep clean sheets, but their attack compensates for this weakness. According to Understat, only three teams—Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, and Villarreal—record a better NPxG (Non-Penalty Expected Goals) than Real Betis’ 21.94.
Bet hereValencia are navigating through stormy waters, quite literally and figuratively. The devastating DANA storms have not only affected fan attendance at the Mestalla but have also left a psychological scar on the players, some of whom are grappling with personal losses.
Their current form mirrors the chaos off the pitch, with just one win in their last 11 outings, leaving the squad low on confidence and cohesion.
Real Betis, on the other hand, tend to play worse away from home, but this is less true for this match as not many fans are expected at the Mestalla.
With Valencia missing their two most important forwards, Real Betis is unlikely to face significant counter-attacking threats. This shift in dynamics gives Betis an opportunity to impose their possession-based style. By using their creative midfielders to pull the strings they can dictate the tempo of the match.
While Vitor Roque grabbed the headlines with his goal against Celta Vigo, Abde remains the team’s most important player in the final third when Real Betis transitions from defence to attack. His ridiculous pace, coupled with his eye for the goal, makes him a nightmare for any backline.
Given Valencia’s instability in maintaining a rest defence, Abde could emerge as the team’s creative leader at the Mestalla.
Los Che lack a defender capable of matching him in one-on-one situations and will still need to man-mark Vitor Roque, whose mobility frequently disrupts centre-backs.
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