Valladolid vs Espanyol Prediction - How Will Los Pucelanos React To Last Round's Heavy Defeat?

Next Saturday night, a relegation-threatened Valladolid will take on Espanyol at Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla for round 36 of Liga BBVA on a match of uttermost importance for Los Pucelanos if they want maintain their aspirations of playing at the Spanish football top tier next season alive .

After Valladolid’s last Monday defeat at Los Balaídos against Celta de Vigo, the overall scenario for Los Pucelanos at La Liga became even more complicated. At the end of the match, Valladolid’s head coach (Juan Ignacio Martinez) acknowledged that his team came short of the expectations against the Galician team and reaffirmed that that is not the way to go if they want to avoid being relegated this season. Valladolid are currently second from the bottom with one game in hand, although that match will be against Real Madrid, which will certainly not constitute a good opportunity for them to collect any points.

The match against Espanyol next Saturday will be crucial for Los Pucelanos’ aspirations this season and it will certainly be a good opportunity for them to maintain their positive recent home record.

For next Saturday’s clash, Juan Ignacio Martinez will probably still not be able to rely on the contribution of the Spanish midfielder Víctor Pérez, who continues sidelined because of injury.

As for Espanyol, the Catalan side is far from being enjoying the best of moments. In the last five matches, Espanyol lost four times and obtained a draw, which is creating some instability and unrest within the work group.

Espanyol are currently going through severe financial problems and even the players’ wages were at risk, something that may also be causing some turbulence in the players and the coaching staff.

For next Saturday’s match at José Zorrilla, Javier Aguirre will not be able to count on Stuani and Javi López, who are suspended, while the Romanian winger Gabriel Torje will probably miss the match due to injury.

When both sides met at Estadi Cornellà El-Prat last December, the home side won 4-2 thanks to goals from Sergio Garcia, Víctor Sánchez and two from Stuani, while Javi Guerra and Víctor Pérez scored for the visitors. Next Saturday’s match will probably be different from their last clash since despite last week’s defeat Valladolid look now a more cohese team than Espanyol.

Valladolid

Stats: W-6 L-14 D-14

Recent Form - LWDDL

Espanyol

Stats: W-11 L-16 D-8

Recent Form - LLDLL

Possible Line-ups

Valladolid (4-4-2) – Jaime - Rukavina - Mitrovic - J. Rueda - Peña - Rossi - Rubio - Larsson - Óscar - J. Guerra - Manucho

Espanyol (4-4-2) - Casilla - Rodríguez - Colotto - Sidnei - Fuentes - D. López - V. Sánchez - Pizzi - Simão - J. Córdoba - S. Garcia

Prediction

Valladolid 2 Espanyol 1