Preview: Real Valladolid vs. Granada - prediction, team news

Granada will be looking to end a run of four straight defeats in all competitions when they resume their La Liga campaign away to Real Valladolid on Sunday evening.

The visitors are currently ninth in the table, one point behind eighth-placed Celta Vigo, while struggling Valladolid occupy 16th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Valladolid performed impressively against Barcelona on Monday evening and came incredibly close to securing a share of the spoils at Camp Nou, only to concede in the 90th minute of the contest.

The defeat was the team's first in the league since February 20, but they have only managed one victory in Spain's top flight since the start of January, which has left them in a difficult position in the table.

Indeed, a record of five wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats from 29 matches has brought the White and Violets 27 points, which has left them in 16th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

There are actually only four points separating the bottom five teams in Spain's top flight, and Sergio Gonzalez 's side will be looking over their shoulder as they bid to secure a third straight season at this level.

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Granada, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night.

The Spanish club frustrated the Red Devils for long spells, but they fell behind in the 31st minute of the contest courtesy of an excellent goal from Marcus Rashford, before Bruno Fernandes netted a second from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, leaving Diego Martinez 's side with a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.

Granada's league form is also a concern, having suffered defeats in three of their last four fixtures, including back-to-back losses to Valencia and Villarreal, conceding five times in the process.

Martinez's team, who finished seventh in La Liga last season, are currently ninth in the table, and it appears that they will only be able to catch eighth-placed Celta Vigo as Villarreal in seventh are 10 points clear.

Real Valladolid La Liga form:

L

D

W

D

D

L

Granada La Liga form:

L

W

L

W

L

L

Granada form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

L

L

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Team News

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Valladolid will be missing Oscar Plano through suspension due to the Spaniard's red card against Barca, but Fabian Orellana is now available following a ban of his own.

The home side still have a number of injury problems, with Jawad El Yamiq, Fede and Raul Garcia all sidelined, while Kiko Olivas and Jota are doubts for this match.

Joaquin Fernandez, Kike Perez, Luis Perez, Roberto Jimenez and Michel are also unlikely to be available, with all five players recently testing positive for coronavirus.

As for Granada, Neyder Lozano and Luis Milla are on the sidelines through injury, while Domingos Duarte limped off the field against Man United on Thursday and is now a major doubt.

Roberto Soldado played almost the full game against the Red Devils in the Europa League, but the experienced striker is suspended for this match due to the booking that he picked up against Villarreal.

There will be changes from the team that started last time out, with Darwin Machis, German Sanchez, Dimitri Foulquier, Yan Eteki and Jorge Molina among those expected to feature.

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Masip; Sanchez, Gonzalez, Olaza; Janko, Alcaraz, Mesa, Nacho; Orellana; Guardiola, Weissman

Granada possible starting lineup:

Silva; Foulquier, Vallejo, Sanchez, Quini; Eteki, Quina; Puertas, Vico, Machis; Molina

We say: Real Valladolid 1-1 Granada

Both teams will be desperate to put three points on the board this weekend; it is a bigger game for Valladolid taking everything into consideration, but Granada's recent form is worrying. The pair played out a 1-1 draw when they last locked horns at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla in September 2019, and we can see the same result occurring on Sunday.

Top tip

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