LA LIGA boff Callum Read (@callumread) is back to attack the Spanish top-flight on Monday night as Osasuna host Valencia.
Osasuna v Valencia | Monday 19:45 | Sky Sports 1
What do Osasuna and Valencia have in common? Both sides are already onto their third manager of the season despite the league not even reading it’s halfway mark.
It’s been a tough season for Osasuna – they currently sit bottom of the table and have picked up just seven points in the shape of one win and four draws. They’ve lacked goals too, with the Basques finding the net just 11 times in 16 games – the lowest in the league.
However, it’s not been much easier for Valencia. They sacked former assistant manager Pako in September and appointed Italian Cesare Prandelli. The former Fiorentina manager walked out on Los Che during the winter break though citing broken promises as the reason for his departure.
Taking Prandelli’s place at the helm is Voro, a familiar name to Valencia fans as he is now taking charge as caretaker manager of Valencia for the fifth time since 2008.
Los Che’s defensive struggles
A big issue for Valencia this season has been their defence, having sold Antonio Barragan and Shkodran Mustafi to Premier League clubs and Ruben Vezo’s loan deal ending – the club were left a little short defensively.
Martin Montoya hasn’t impressed in his handful of games, Eliaquim Mangala doesn’t look comfortable at the heart of the defence and at left-back Jose Gaya is failing to live up to his potential we once saw a few years ago. All in all, Valencia find it almost impossible to keep a clean sheet.
Miscommunication along with a book of defensive errors have been seen more than enough and has resulted in Valencia keeping just one La Liga clean sheet in their last 43 league games.
The visitors do have the ability to find the back of the net though – they’ve notched 21 times this season and Both Teams To Score is a bet that’s landed in each of their last 11 competitive games.
A newly-promoted side has to make their home stadium a feared place to have any chance of survival; the harsh reality is Osasuna have failed to do so. The El Sadar faithful are yet to see a win this season and have seen their side scored just four goals in eight games.
The betting angle
They also follow the defensive mould that Valencia have set managing just one clean sheet this season. Given both sides inability to keep their opposition out and two very poor defences, I’m happy to back Both Teams To Score at odds of 3/4 with 888.
I do however, think Valencia have enough in the tank to get the three points in this game. They’ve been really poor this season but they haven’t been half as bad as Osasuna who are incredibly low on confidence.
Voro is Valencia through and through – whenever he’s been given the chance as caretaker manager he’s put 100% into the position – I can’t see that changing on Monday night.
With Valencia at 51/50 (Marathon) I’m also taking them to win this crunch Monday night clash.
Best Bets
Osasuna v Valencia – Both Teams To Score (3/4 888)
Osasuna v Valencia – Valencia to win (51/50 Marathon)
