Valencia vs Leganes Predictions

A trip to Camp Nou to face champions Barcelona was hardly the ideal fixture for Valencia on Matchday 4 after Marcelino’s controversial sacking, and Los Che were comprehensively outgunned 5-2 by the Catalan giants.

New manager Albert Celades quickly whipped his squad into shape though as Los Che opened their Champions League account with an excellent 0-1 success at Chelsea in midweek, and the 43 year-old will be looking for more of the same this weekend as his team aim to hit back on the domestic front at home to struggling Leganes.

Whilst any kind of positive result at Barcelona would have been classed as a bonus last weekend, four points from four La Liga matches is unquestionably a poor return for this Valencia side, who finished 4^th last term for the second season in a row and lifted the Copa Del Rey.

Expectations are high for Los Che this season, and whilst they began their Champions League campaign in fine style earlier this week, they are already playing catch-up in La Liga after dropping eight points from a possible 12 on offer.

Fortunately for Valencia, they have quick-fire consecutive home games coming up which should both be winnable, starting with Leganes this Sunday before a clash against Getafe next Wednesday.

Los Che were held to 1-1 draws in both La Liga fixtures against Lega last term, but this season’s form indicates that the hosts should return to the trend which saw them win their previous six encounters with Los Pepineros.

That’s not particularly due to Valencia’s results or displays to date (bar their aforementioned midweek victory at Stamford Bridge) but instead Leganes’ woeful start to the La Liga campaign.

Los Pepineros sit bottom of the table after losing all four of their matches thus far – the latest of those defeats being a 0-3 home trouncing at the hands of Villarreal last Saturday. Lega have failed to score in three of those games after drawing blanks at home to Osasuna (0-1) and Atletico Madrid (0-1) in the first two weeks of the season, with their only goal scored to date coming against Real Betis (2-1) at Benito Villamarin before the international break.

Boss Mauricio Pellegrino needs to turn things around fast with his side already four points behind 17^th place Espanyol, but Lega could conceivably be six defeats from six come this time next week with a tough game against 4^th placed Athletic Bilbao up next.

We expect Valencia to build on their win at Chelsea with a comfortable success here and they look good value to cover a one goal handicap. Los Che have posted five wins, two draws and just one defeat from their last eight La Liga games at Mestalla, and four of those victories have been by a two goal margin.

With the visitors toiling and seemingly lacking any attacking threat after netting just one goal in four games, 2-0 seems a viable correct score selection in favour of Albert Celades’ side.