Valladolid vs Leganes Predictions

• Valladolid head into this Friday’s fixture without a win in their last six La Liga games (D3, L3).
• Valladolid have failed to score from open play in six consecutive league outings. Leganes, meanwhile, have scored just four goals in eight away matches this season.
• Leganes have registered two wins and a draw from their last three league matches.
• The visitors have won the last four meetings between the sides, including a 4-2 success in last season’s corresponding fixture.

Goal-shy hosts struggling

With seven points separating these sides in the table and Leganes winless on the road this term, odds of around 6/4 for a Valladolid win at Jose Zorrilla this Friday night certainly look generous at first glance.

But recent form tells a completely different story, with Pucela now winless in six La Liga matches after their 1-1 home draw against Valencia last time out. While a point against Los Che is a fair result on paper, Sergio’s men were denied a much needed victory deep into stoppage time, after Manu Vallejo’s scrambled finish cancelled out Sergi Guardiola’s earlier free-kick.

The late setback is likely to have further dented Valladolid’s confidence, following an abysmal prior run of five top-flight matches without a goal. Pucela’s toils up front make them instantly opposable for the win here, although it’s important to remember they have lost just one of their eight La Liga games at Jose Zorrilla this term.

A big chance for Lega

Leganes have been stranded in the bottom three since the beginning of the season, but Los Pepineros finally have a chance to at least temporarily move out of the relegation zone this Friday, following some decent results leading up to Christmas. Goals from Martin Braithwaite and Youssef En-Nesyri sealed a comfortable 2-0 success for Javier Aguirre’s side in a crucial six-pointer at home to Espanyol last time out.

Lega have now bagged seven points from their last three outings after a 3-2 home win against Celta Vigo and a 1-1 draw at Alaves. Recent form and a league double over Valladolid last season means the visitors will be riding high going into this weekend’s clash, although Lega are still in search of their first away win of the campaign following three draws and five defeats on the road thus far.

Nonetheless, 1-1 draws against Real Sociedad and Alaves either side of a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sevilla represented much better efforts from Los Pepineros compared to their travels earlier in the season. A repeat of those performances here could see them over the line if Valladolid fail to improve.

Lega to edge a low-scoring affair

With reasons to oppose both teams for the win and double chance odds too short to warrant serious investment, there’s no hiding from the notion this is a pretty nasty fixture from a betting perspective to kick-off the La Liga weekend.

Based on recent meetings (Leganes have won the last four), the visitors’ upward curve and Valladolid’s misfiring attack, we’re tentatively chancing a 1-0 correct score in favour of Los Pepineros. We’re also recommending a small wager on under 1.5 goals at a shade of odds-against.

We know the hosts have failed to score from open play in their last six La Liga matches, while Lega have netted just four from eight outings on their travels so far this term. Whilst the visitors are on the up, this is still likely to be an extremely cagey affair and quality in front of goal looks set to be at a premium.