Preview: Granada vs. Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

Valencia will be looking to end a run of three straight defeats in Spain's top flight when they continue their 2019-20 campaign away to Granada on Saturday night.

Los Che's disappointing run of form has seen them drop into 10th position in the table, level on points with ninth-placed Granada, with both sides now facing an uphill task to make the top six.

Match preview

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Granada secured a return to La Liga for the 2019-20 campaign courtesy of finishing second in the Segunda Division last season and therefore consolidating at this level was always going to be club's priority this term.

El Grana have not actually finished higher than 15th in La Liga since the 1973-74 campaign but are on course for a top-half spot as the season approaches its latter stages.

Indeed, a total of 46 points from 33 matches has left them in ninth position in the table, two points behind seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao and six points behind sixth-placed Getafe.

It seems unlikely that Diego Martinez 's side will be able to claim a Europa League finish, but there is no question that it has been a successful campaign for the club.

Granada lost two of their three league matches between June 19 and June 28 but will enter Saturday's clash with Valencia off the back of an impressive 2-0 victory at Alaves.

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Valencia relieved Albert Celades of his managerial duties following last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Villarreal, with Voro placed in charge of the club on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign.

It is the third time that Voro has held the position, having also previously replaced Ronald Koeman and Cesare Prandelli, and Celades's exit did not come as much of a shock as reports claimed that the Spaniard had lost control of the dressing room during a difficult spell.

The former Spanish champions have only picked up one victory since returning to action after the lockdown period, which came at home to Osasuna on June 21.

Los Che will enter this weekend's game off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, which left them in 10th position in the table, some six points off the top six.

Valencia have finished fourth in each of their last two La Liga seasons but are currently battling for a top-half finish; they have beaten Granada in their last two league meetings, though, including a 2-0 victory in the reverse game at the Mestalla back in November.

Granada La Liga form: WDLDLW

Valencia La Liga form: DLWLLL

Team News

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Granada have a fairly substantial injury list at the moment, with Rui Silva, Angel Montoro, Alex Martinez, Quini, Neyder Lozano and Maxime Gonalons all currently unavailable for selection.

Experienced defender German Sanchez is available following a suspension, though, and should return to the starting XI in the middle of the back three.

Roberto Soldado scored his fifth league goal of the season against Alaves and should keep his spot, although Carlos Fernandez is also pushing for a starting role.

As for Valencia, Jose Gaya and Cristiano Piccini remain on the sidelines through injury, while experienced defender Ezequiel Garay has left the club following the expiration of his contract.

There are not expected to be too many changes from the side that lost against Athletic, although Kevin Gameiro and Carlos Soler could both come into the XI.

Daniel Wass is an option for right-back, but Jaume Costa should continue at left-back due to Gaya's absence, while Ferran Torres is likely to keep his spot in a wide area.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Escandell; Duarte, Sanchez, Vallejo; Foulquier, Herrera, Azeez, Dias; Puertas, Soldado, Machis

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Florenzi, Gabriel, Diakhaby, Costa; Soler, Kondogbia, Parejo, Torres; Rodrigo, Gameiro

We say: Granada 1-1 Valencia

Both sides have picked up 46 points from their 33 La Liga matches this season, which suggests that there is not too much between them. Both managers will be keen not to lose the match, meaning that it could be a tight affair, and we are finding it difficult to separate them.