Granada vs Valencia Betting Tips

Gary Neville picked up only his 2nd win as Valencia boss in the first encounter last week. An Alvaro Negredo hat-trick was the main decisive factor in a 4-0 win with Rodrigo adding another and there is no real way back into the tie for the Andalusians now.

Valencia’s form in the league is still very poor however and Neville is still waiting for his first La Liga win after a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Real Sociedad at the weekend. If it doesn’t pick up soon, then this competition could be their easiest route into Europe next season with the club currently in the bottom half of the league and a desperate 16 points off the top four, where they finished last season.

They are only 6 points better off than Granada who are in 17th place, just outside the drop-zone. They were beaten 4-0 again at the weekend, this time at the Camp Nou and are having another difficult season but have won 3 of their last 5 home games including their most recent one against regional rivals Sevilla.

Like so many Copa del Rey ties this week, the outcome will largely be determined by team selection. There is no way that Valencia are not going to progress here so both managers are likely to make many changes, perhaps even 11 from the weekend. Granada’s priority is survival so they won’t risk tiring out their best players on what is in essence a lost cause.

Valencia named a strong eleven in the 1st leg but will give some fringe players a go here. They do have strength in depth however after a huge number of summer arrivals so they won’t necessarily be severely weakened and this should give a few of them a chance to force their way deeper into Neville’s thinking. Valencia, who could again start with 1st leg hero Negredo, therefore will have the stronger eleven out and can be backed at 5/6 to win in the ‘draw no bet’ market.

There is likely to be few fans and not much of an atmosphere at this game and backing Valencia to stroll to a 2-0 win and into the next round looks excellent value at 12/1.