Valencia vs Granada 09/11/19

9 November 2019

Encouraged by a stunning 4-1 comeback win over Lille in the Champions League, Valencia will be looking to extend their 12-game unbeaten La Liga (LL) run against Granada when the two sides face-off at the Estadio de Mestalla this weekend.

Although they’ve endured an underwhelming start to the season that has seen them pick up only four wins in the opening 12 rounds of LL fixtures (D5, L3), the hosts are still sitting just four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. The Oranges have yet to taste defeat at home this term, but they’ve pulled off only two victories in six LL home outings (D4). Three of Valencia’s four LL home draws this term have ended with the same 1-1 scoreline, as was the case the last time Granada arrived at the Mestalla. Strong first-half performers Los Ches have won four of six first halves of LL home action played so far, netting six of a total of ten LL home goals scored before the break.

The visitors’ dip in form has seen them go from back-to-back 1-0 LL wins to two consecutive defeats. Both of their previous losses have followed a similar scenario of Granada conceding an opening goal in the first half and allowing another one in the second half while scoring one apiece. Although the returnees sit only two points adrift of top-placed Barcelona, they’ve largely failed to impress away from home, picking up 40% of their total league points on the road (eight of 20). While both of Granada’s LL away wins came against the sides from the bottom half of the table, both of their defeats saw them go down to upper-half-of-the-table clubs. But, their good away record against ‘struggling teams’ won’t matter here, as they’ve lost six of seven top-flight visits to Valencia in the 21st century (D1).