Valencia vs Villarreal prediction 31/08/2024 | La Liga

• Date: 31/08/2024
• Competition: La Liga
• KO: 21:30 CEST
• Venue: Estadio de Mestalla (Valencia)

Valencia returns to La Liga action on Sunday when an out-of-form Valencia take on Villarreal at the Estadio de Mestalla. 

Valencia vs Villarreal Betting Tips: Villarreal to Win / BTTS

Valencia come into Saturday's contest at the Mestalla looking to avoid a fourth successive defeat after a 1:0 setback at Bilbao on Wednesday. Bottom of the division and with no points to show from their first three fixtures, the pressure is already beginning to mount on head coach Ruben Baraja.

A poor run of form at the Mestalla, both at the end of last season and at the beginning for the new campaign, Los Che failed to win any of their last six home league fixtures (D2, L4).

In all matches, Valencia are winless in ten league contests, with eight of these games ending in defeat.

Villarreal make the trip to the Mestalla in much better form having made an excellent start to their campaign. The Yellow Submarine won their last two league matches against Sevilla (2:1) and Celta Vigo (4:3) after a 2:2 draw against Atletico Madrid on the opening day of the season. 

Marcelino´s men have enjoyed an excellent run of form on their travels, picking up victories in six of their last ten away league matches. Villarreal lost just one of those ten games, after previously failing to win eight of their nine previous road matches.

Valencia do have a strong recent record in home matches against Villarreal, but their early season form is not encouraging, and I expect Villarreal to claim the points on a night where BTTS is also a likely outcome. Six of the last seven meetings between these sides at the Mestalla saw both teams getting on the scoresheet.

Ultimately, I´m backing Villarreal to claim a hard-fought win, with a 2:1 scoreline potentially on the cards.