Valencia vs Espanyol Prediction: Close encounter on the cards

Two teams sat in mid-table meet at the Mestalla on Tuesday night as Valencia host Espanyol in La Liga (18:00 KO, Premier Sports 1).

Read on for my Valencia vs Espanyol predictions, featuring the latest odds and team news.

Valencia vs Espanyol Odds

Valencia are expected to collect all three points at 4/5, and they have five of their last six home matches in La Liga. The draw is priced at 5/2, while Espanyol are considered 18/5 outsiders.

Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 11/10, while odds of 1/1 are available for both teams to find the back of the net.

Valencia's Hugo Duro is the favourite to score anytime at 7/5, closely followed by team-mate Rafa Mir, who is 13/8 to open his account for the season.

Team News

Valencia's Thierry Correia is sidelined due to a serious knee injury, but Coberan has no other issues to contend with.

Espanyol's Javi Puado is set to return to the fold after missing the 1-0 win over Getafe through suspension. Puado is likely to replace Antoniu Roca, while Brian Olivan and Jose Gragera are both sidelined through injury.

Draw @ 5/2

Valencia have eased any fears of relegation with a seven-match unbeaten run in recent weeks, which has helped them move seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Los Che have won four times during that run, but they will still feel that they have work to do to avoid the drop.

Corberan has got his team into a good rhythm, and the highlight of their recent run was the 2-1 win over Real Madrid.

Espanyol will be full of confidence themselves, having enjoyed a five-match unbeaten run of their own in all competitions, which includes four wins.

Parakeets have kept four clean sheets during that time and it is likely that the two teams will cancel each other out.

Recent history tells us that the pair are used to butting heads, with the last four meetings ending in a score draw.

Both teams to score @ 1/1

Valencia have scored in seven consecutive games, but Corberan has yet to get his team playing his defence-first brand of football, as they have only kept two clean sheets during that run.

Espanyol have scored in seven games on the spin away from home, and they have scored six goals in their last two away matches.

Both teams will feel that they need at least one more win to guarantee their safety, so both sides are likely to go for it and it should mean we are in for an entertaining battle.

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