Valladolid vs Eibar Predictions

The fact that keeper Jordi Masip won man of the match at the weekend tells you that Valladolid had to ride their luck to earn a point against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, but the result extended what has been an extremely solid start to the campaign for Pucela who have lost just twice in their opening nine matches.

Sergio’s side deservedly avoided the drop in 2018/19 and will be looking to achieve a mid-table finish this time around, a feat well within their grasp based on their tenacious displays so far.

Valladolid will be keen to start turning some of their draws into wins though and this weekend’s fixture against Eibar presents the Castile and Leon outfit with a decent opportunity to bag their first home victory of the season after three consecutive stalemates at Jose Zorrilla.

Valladolid’s effort at home last time out was easily their best as they grafted their way to a 0-0 scoreline against giants Atletico Madrid, and Pucela should appreciate the drop in quality of opposition on Matchday 10 as they welcome an Eibar side who have been toiling on the road for some time.

With three draws and two defeats from five away outings this season, Los Armeros continue firing blanks on their travels and they have now won just one of their last 20 La Liga away matches, losing nine.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men have also failed to score in four of their last eight away and, for the obvious reasons outlined,  rate as atrocious value for this Saturday’s encounter at around the 2/1 mark. A comprehensive 0-3 home defeat to Barcelona last weekend will have done little for Eibar’s morale either, as they drop to 16^th in the table, two points behind the 12^th placed hosts.

Of course, Valladolid have to prove that they are more than just draw specialists and a meagre tally of eight goals scored this season (including two from three outings at home) is slightly off-putting.

But their lack of potency in front of goal is factored into their generous price for this game, and one goal may well be enough based on Eibar’s aforementioned attacking failures. Valladolid also got the better of their opponents 1-2 when the sides last met in March, which should give them an added boost here.

There’s no sugar coating that this will probably be quite a dour affair, but we think the hosts can edge it via a 1-0 scoreline.