Valenciavs.Leganes

Valencia suffered a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in the final eight of the competition on Thursday, while Leganes' journey was ended by Real Madrid on Wednesday, with Los Blancos scoring a last-gasp winner in the five-goal thriller.

Match preview

Valencia will be glad to see the back of Barcelona, having conceded 12 times against the Catalan giants in two of their last three games, shipping seven in the league on January 26 before losing 5-0 at home in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Los Che will enter this match off the back of a La Liga win, though, having beaten Celta Vigo 2-1 last weekend, which proved to be their third victory in their last five games in all competitions.

Carlos Corberan's side are 19th in the La Liga table, boasting a record of four wins, seven draws and 11 defeats from 22 matches, which has seen them collect 19 points, four points fewer than 17th-placed Espanyol.

Valencia's home form this season has been relatively solid, picking up 15 points from 11 matches, but they have seriously struggled on their travels, failing to win a single game, losing seven times in the process.

Los Che are facing a first relegation since 1986, which is an indication of what is on the line this season, but there is still plenty of football to be played and enough talent in the squad to move out of trouble over the coming months.

Leganes were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey during the week, but they gave an excellent account of themselves against Real Madrid, fighting back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, before conceding a last-gasp third to lose 3-2.

Borja Jimenez's side were also beaten 1-0 by Rayo Vallecano in La Liga last weekend, but they have picked up some impressive results this year, beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 to end the capital outfit's long winning run, before drawing 0-0 away to Athletic Bilbao.

A record of five wins, eight draws and nine defeats from 22 matches this season has seen El Lega collect 23 points, which has left them in 16th spot in the table, four points above 19th-placed Valencia.

There is no downplaying the importance of this match, and Leganes have actually only been beaten in three of their 11 away league matches this season, which is an excellent record, with seven of those games ending in draws.

Leganes are also unbeaten in their last five La Liga matches against Valencia, but they have only won once during that period, and it was 0-0 in the reverse game between the two sides earlier this season.

Valencia La Liga form:

D

L

D

W

L

W

Valencia form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

W

L

Leganes La Liga form:

W

L

D

W

D

L

Leganes form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

L

L

Team News

Valencia will again be missing Thierry Correia through injury on Sunday, but Los Che have not reported any fresh problems following their clash with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

As expected, head coach Corberan made a number of changes to his side for that contest, but the big-hitters will be recalled here, including Luis Rioja, Hugo Duro, Javi Guerra and Jose Gaya.

It could be the same XI that took to the field for the team's last match against Celta Vigo, including a return between the sticks for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is joining Liverpool this summer.

As for Leganes, Sergio Gonzalez is missing due to a suspension, while Enric Franquesa is out due to a serious knee injury.

Juan Cruz was his side's standout performer against Real Madrid, coming up with a brace from a left midfield role, but he is set to switch to the wing-back position for the visitors this weekend.

There will be changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against the Spanish champions, with Dani Raba and Miguel de la Fuente both in line for recalls, while Marko Dmitrovic will return between the sticks for El Lega.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; D Lopez, Almeida, Rioja; Duro

Leganes possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Alti, Rosier, Tapia, Nastasic, Cruz; Raba, Brasanac, Neyou, Rodriguez; De la Fuente

We say: Valencia 1-1 Leganes

Four of the last five La Liga meetings between these two sides have finished level, including three 1-1 draws, and we are predicting that scoreline here. Valencia have home advantage, but Leganes have proven to be very difficult to beat on their travels this season, and we are expecting them to be good enough to avoid defeat at Mestalla.

Written by

Matt Law

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