Valencia vs Real Betis Prediction: Hosts can win this six-pointer

Valencia host Real Betis at the Mestalla Stadium in La Liga on Saturday (17:30), in what is a huge clash in the race for European football. Two points separate the two teams currently with the hosts in seventh and the visitors in eighth, and they are three and five points adrift respectively of the European places.

This match is vital for both clubs' seasons and ambition to feature in European competition next term. Momentum is with the hosts, as are my Valencia vs Real Betis predictions, which include team news and match odds for Saturday evening's affair.

Match Odds

Valencia are 6/5, or a 45.5% chance to come away with the three points on this occasion, as they look to avenge their 3-0 defeat against Real Betis back in October. Real Betis are 5/2, implying a 28.6% chance to win this contest for the second time this term, while the draw can be backed at 11/5 (31.3%).

18 of Real Betis' 31 matches in La Liga this term have seen both teams score. It is valued at 10/11 to deliver in Valencia this weekend. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 6/5.

Valencia's Hugo Duro has netted 12 goals in the league this campaign and he is marketed at 8/5 to score anytime on Saturday.

Team News

In Monday's victory over Osasuna, the hosts were without Jose Gaya, Mouctar Diakhaby and Roman Yaremchuk, who are all expected to be absent for the visit of Real Betis. Fortunately, they have no fresh injury concerns heading into the weekend so we could see an unchanged lineup against Manuel Pellegrini's men.

For Betis, full-back Hugo Bellerin is likely to miss out until early next month because of a hamstring problem, joining Marc Roca and Ezequiel Avila in the medical bay.

Marca Bartra and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are both doubts to feature with an achilles issue and illness respectively, although the latter will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Valencia to win @ 6/5

Momentum is certainly with the hosts right now and that is why I am backing them to grab the huge three points on offer on home soil. Valencia have won two games on the bounce and are unbeaten in six of their last seven clashes in La Liga, while Betis have tasted defeat in four of their previous five.

Their confidence has taken a knock, while Valencia's has been rising for some time, and in front of a packed-out home crowd, the hosts should have more than enough to get the win here and hopefully close the gap on the teams above them.

Over 2.5 goals @ 6/5

The trend in Valencia's recent matches has seen nine of their last 11 deliver under 2.5 goals, but I think this will change on Saturday. Yes, Betis have been in disappointing form of late but let us remember that they comfortably defeated the hosts 3-0 in Seville back in October, and at this stage of the season and where the two teams are in the table, this fixture is massive.

Pellegrini and his players will see the importance of this match, as will Valencia, and a victory could spur either of them on to finish inside the European places with six games left to play. So I think there will be plenty of passion on display and with the potential repercussions, a few goals as well.

After all, three of Betis' away games this term have seen over 3.5 goals land, so over 2.5 goals is more than realistic on Saturday.

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