Girona vs Valladolid Best Bet Preview

It’s off to Spain for our prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview ahead of Girona vs Valladolid. It’s a tough encounter to call. Neither side fills you with confidence.

Girona are firm favourites despite their poor run of results. Michel is without some key names in the middle of the park. They haven’t been great defensively. There’s a new man in the dugout for the away side. Diego Cocca will manage his first-ever game in Europe on Friday night. He’ll be desperate to start on a high. Valladolid has leaked far too many goals on the road this term.

Girona vs Valladolid Best Bet: Both Sides To Oblige In Final Game Of The Year

Spain, La Liga, Friday, December 20th, 20:00 (UK)

Girona’s 23/24 campaign was remarkable. Michel’s men took La Liga by storm and earned a respectable 3rd-place finish. The Spanish side lost several key names, as expected. A follow-up on last season was almost impossible to recreate. Girona are currently 10th after 17 matches in La Liga. The home side have earned 13 of their 22 points at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi. They’re winless in six consecutive matches in all competitions. Girona was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by a lower-league side. UD Logrones are in the same division as Real Sociedad’s C team. 

Valladolid were runners up in La Liga 2 last season. Diego Cocca is the new head coach. The 52-year-old has managed in Argentina and Mexico but never in Europe. The clash with Girona will be his first match in charge. The footballing cliche of ‘new manager bounce’ could take shape here. Valladolid is 19th after 17 matches. They’ve shipped 22 goals in eight away days, the worst record in the division.

The home side are favourites. Michel’s side is available at 1.45. That price does seem short. Girona boasts a 4-1-3 (WDL) record at this venue. Statistically, Girona ranks as the 5th best home side in the division. Their xGD/90 is +0.59. Barca, Atleti, Real and Betis are the only teams with a better figure. Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid have prevented Michel’s side from scoring at home this term.

It appears that the away side is drastically underperforming on the road. Valladolid has -16GD, but the expected number is -7.9. The manager’s first job will be enabling a better defensive structure. His side can’t continue to ship goals at an alarming rate. The La Liga newcomers haven’t managed an away clean sheet this term. Real Avila and Astur, two lower league sides, managed to get themselves on the scoresheet in Copa de Rey encounters.

Valladolid has won the xG count in consecutive away days. They lost both encounters. I’m expecting the away side to arrive here with some confidence. Valla won their recent clash against Valencia on Friday night. They’re four points adrift of safety. Despite the encouraging factors, I can’t trust them to leave Girona with a clean sheet. Finding the back of the net is vital for Valladolid to earn a share of the spoils.

Seven of the previous eight teams who have played here have scored. Leganes found the back of the net three times, whilst Espanyol scored one of their own. Those two sides have a considerably worse xG figure than Valladolid. Michel’s side has conceded 13 times here. Only Villarreal has a worse record. Two vulnerable defences are going up against one another.

I’m backing BTTS in this clash. Girona should fancy their chances against the leakiest away side in the division. It’s the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. Valladolid has scored in both La Liga matches in December. It’s their final match of the calendar year. Diego Cocca will be eager to get off to a positive start. It’s a clash they’ll look to earn points. Neither defence can be trusted, given the numbers highlighted.

• Girona vs Valladolid best bet : BTTS – Yes (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10 (TRACKED BET)

Girona vs Valladolid best bet odds via bet365 as at 09:00, 17th December, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Girona vs Valladolid Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Key Names Absent

Oriol Romeu is unavailable for this clash due to suspension. Bojan Miovski will not feature due to a hamstring injury. Viktor Tsigankov hasn’t featured since November. The Ukrainian attacker is doubtful. Yangel Herrera’s foot injury is keeping him out of action.

Kike Perez and Juanmi Latasa will not feature due to suspension. Mamadou Sylla remains a doubt. Moroccan international Selim Amallah could play for the first time since November. Anuar scored the only goal in Valladolid’s 1-0 win over Valencia. He’ll be hoping to start again.

Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Juanpe, Lopez, Blind, Van de Beek, Martinez, Martin, Gil, Gutierrez, Asprilla, Danjuma

Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; Rosa, Bah, Sanchez, Chasco, Juric, Anuar, Sanchez, Machis, Moro, de Sousa

Match Stats: Leaky and Out Of Form

• Valladolid have conceded 22 goals in eight away days, more than any side.
• Raul Moro has created 4 big chances for Valladolid. 
• Girona haven’t won in their last 6 matches across all competitions.

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.