Espanyol v Valencia: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Espanyol and Valencia are both in La Liga's drop zone entering the holiday period and will have targeted Wednesday's clash at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona as a potential source of valuable points.

The home side are finding life tough in the top tier after bouncing back from a season in the Segunda last year, but perhaps that is not surprising as they had finished fourth and won promotion via the play-offs.

Valencia are an established La Liga side but will have concerns about suffering their first relegation since 1986 as they currently prop up the standings with only 10 points from their first 15 games. 

Los Ches finished ninth last season but they are yet to win on the road in the league this year and will be looking to put that right in this crucial midweek contest. 

Espanyol v Valencia betting tips and predictions

Valencia to win - 2/1

Valencia have had little to celebrate in their away league matches to date, taking just two points from their first eight road trips in La Liga, but they could be the side to back when they travel to fellow strugglers Espanyol.

The home team have fared much better in front of their own fans this season, with 13 of their 14 league points gained at RCDE Stadium but they are not in the sort of form to be trusted as favourites.

Espanyol have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions, and nine of their last 13 stretching further back.

That run includes an awful 2-0 cup loss to minnows Barbastro in the Copa Del Rey two weeks ago, and they have not scored in two subsequent matches either, losing 1-0 at Getafe before a goalless home draw with Osasuna on Saturday.

It's also worth noting that Espanyol's only recent win, a 3-1 home success against Celta Vigo, was achieved despite the visitors having a whopping 79.3 per cent possession but getting only two of their 18 shots on target.

Valencia have not found the net in their last two matches either, suffering successive 1-0 league losses to Real Vallecano and relegation rivals Valladolid.

While they have not yet won away in the league this season, Valencia showed they can perform in hostile conditions with road successes in two Copa Del Rey games against lower-league duo Parla Escuela and Ejea.

Having beaten Real Betis 4-2 at home three weeks ago, that means Valencia have won three of their last six league and cup matches and they are not as unfamiliar with winning as the league table may suggest.

Playing on Friday last week has also given the visitors an extra day of rest before this midweek match.

Hugo Duro first goalscorer - 11/2

Hugo Duro was Valencia's top scorer last season and he could be the man to set them on their way to victory against Espanyol.

The 25-year-old made a perfect start to the campaign, putting his side ahead against mighty Barcelona on the opening day, and he has since taken his tally to four with the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Villarreal and a double strike in the 4-2 home win over Betis - although he also scored an own goal in that match for an unusual hat-trick.

Valencia have scored only 13 goals in 15 league games, but Duro looks a likely candidate to add to that total on Wednesday night.

Valencia to score in first half - 13/8

When Espanyol lose, games tend to slide away from them early on and it may pay to take Valencia to find the net before half-time.

Getafe's winning goal against them last Monday was scored in the eighth minute, while Girona were 4-0 up against Espanyol by half-time having opened their account through Bryan Gil after just four minutes.

Barcelona scored three times in the first 31 minutes in their derby game before that and both goals arrived in the first half when Sevilla won 2-0 at the RCDE Stadium.

Valencia's last league goal came in the first half at Mallorca and they netted after just eight minutes against Real Betis.

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Espanyol v Valencia odds

Espanyol - 8/5
Draw - 2/1
Valencia - 2/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.