Valencia vs Las Palmas Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Valencia vs Las Palmas on and what time does it start? Valencia vs Las Palmas will take place on Friday 18th August, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Valencia vs Las Palmas? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Valencia vs Las Palmas on in the UK? Valencia vs Las Palmas will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Valencia vs Las Palmas in the UK? Valencia vs Las Palmas can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
VALENCIA
Another tumultuous summer has seen further supporter discontent and protest at the running of the club from Peter Lim. The fallen giants of the Valencian Community escaped relegation on the final day of the season last year and have since lost loanees Samuel Lino, Ilaix Moriba and Nico Gonzalez as well as selling Justin Kluivert and Yunus Musah with Edinson Cavani, Facundo Gonzalez and Toni Lato all also departing.
Despite that, though, Ruben Baraja, with a cobbled together squad featuring several players playing out of position, pulled off a surprise 2-0 win away to the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium last weekend. Mouctar Diakhaby, one of the players out of position, opened the scoring on the hour mark before Youssef En-Nesyri’s equaliser shortly after but a Loic Bade red card in the 81st minute allowed the Valencians to finish strongly and Javi Guerra pinched all three points for the visitors.
LAS PALMAS
Las Palmas were second-tier champions last season playing an impressive and entertaining style of football under the management of former Barcelona youth and Barcelona B coach Garcia Pimienta. The Canary Islanders have made some interesting additions for their progressive and front foot style and will expect to be as effective as they are fun to watch in the top-flight this season.
The visitors began their season playing against a Real Mallorca team who, under the management of Javier Aguirre, play a very different style of football which is a lot more agricultural. Naturally with the clash of styles, it ended up being an even contest with Las Palmas taking a first-half lead as Jonathan Viera scored from the spot before Antonio Raillo levelled things up at the eventual full-time score of 1-1 mid-way through the second-half.
THE TEAM NEWS
VALENCIA
Ruben Baraja remains without Marcos Andre and now recently promoted to the first-team striker Alberto Mari is injured. Despite Baraja’s need for new players, nobody has arrived this week so he will likely keep the same eleven as the one that defeated Sevilla away from home last week.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Correia, Gabriel, Ozkacar, Gaya; Perez, Diakhaby, Pepelu, Lopez; Almeida, Duro
UNAVAILABLE: Marcos Andre (Injured), Mari (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LAS PALMAS
As is the apparently new and progressive style of football for the young and supposedly progressive coach, Pimienta prefers a 4-1-4-1 system. That could well be reliant on several attacking midfielders and the loss of Alberto Moleiro to injury will be frustrating. The Canary Islanders are likely to retain unchanged after their 1-1 draw with Mallorca, albeit the likeliest change could be at right-back with Julian Araujo coming in.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Valles; Lemos, Coco, Suarez, Sinkgraven; Rodriguez; Viera, Munoz, Loiodice, Sandro; Cardona
UNAVAILABLE: Moleiro (Injured), Gonzalez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The way that Valencia have played under Ruben Baraja since the latter part of last season has been admirable. A team with off-field issues, depleted on the field too, have still managed to actually be proactive and, especially at Mestalla, will fancy their chances of causing defensive issues to anyone, let alone newly-promoted sides. With that said, though, Las Palmas will go to Valencia knowing a fast and positive start, controlling the tempo of the match, will lead to a bit of restlessness and they will be confident of notching at least one themselves.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
