🔈 How will José Bordalás' encounter with his former club unfold? The "City" team have truly emerged as the biggest surprise of the La Liga season opener. Not only did they achieve two wins in their first two matches, but Bordalás' squad did so convincingly and deservedly. Meanwhile, the "Bats" are still finding their rhythm, with Carlos Corberán working to identify the best combinations on the field. Let's note the bookmakers' initial odds for the match: a Valencia win is at 2.2, while a Getafe victory stands at 3.85.

Head-to-Head

📊 In last season's La Liga, Valencia never lost to Getafe: they drew 1-1 at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez and won 3-0 at the Mestalla. Notably, over the course of six head-to-head encounters at the Bats' home ground, the hosts have consistently picked up points. The last time the visitors triumphed in Valencia was during the 2017/18 season, when a brace from Loïc Rémy secured a 2-1 victory for Getafe.

Valencia Team Overview

🟠 Valencia have yet to meet their fans' expectations at the start of the new season. After a draw with Real Sociedad (1-1), the Bats failed to add to their points tally in an away clash with Osasuna (0-1). However, Valencia's football is far from hopeless and inspires hope for further progress in Carlos Corberan's tactical model. The relatively high individual skill level of the players and well-established connections on the field should only aid in this development.

📌 Carlos Corberan's arrival at Valencia during last season truly revitalized the Bats. The Spanish tactician's preferred 4-4-2 formation perfectly suits a direct style of play with numerous wing incursions and long passes. The absence of overly complex tactical instructions and his remarkable ability to motivate players have transformed the head coach into a genuinely serious specialist. 

Getafe Team Overview

🔵 Although Getafe play a straightforward style of football, José Bordalás has shown his adaptability in the early rounds of La Liga. Their low-block defense hasn't stopped the "City" side from consistently creating chances at the opponent's goal, capitalizing on them effectively. Notably, even against an organized Celta (2-0), Getafe managed to neutralize the threat from the "Celts'" wing attacks and secured a well-deserved victory.

📌 Currently, the "City" team sit in 4th place in the standings, remaining one of five teams yet to drop any points. Interestingly, Getafe's nominal formation this season is a 5-3-2 setup. Notably, last season the "Dark Blues" more frequently employed a classic 4-4-2 formation. Their ability to adjust during matches and effectively utilize the strengths of their two forwards allows the club from the namesake city to remain unpredictable throughout all 90 minutes.

Latest news

Valencia

📰 One of the major headlines in Valencia recently is the extension of Diego Lopez's contract until 2029. The 23-year-old has been an integral part of the club over the past few seasons, and losing such a valuable asset would have been an unforgivable mistake by the "Oranges" management. The Spanish forward expressed his feelings about this significant event: “I am very happy and grateful to the club for the contract extension, and now my task is to prove they made the right decision. I will give my all, as I always have. I've always said I could hardly play better anywhere else. I've felt at home since day one. I never doubted I would stay because I genuinely feel happy here.”

🎤 After a disappointing performance in the last round, Carlos Corberan shared his thoughts with the media: “When you're defending on such a pitch against a team with that style of play, without showing aggression, you know you'll have to deal with crosses. We allowed several such moments, they managed to take the lead, and then the match was decided by Gaya's foul. I saw that the players were determined to fight until the end. We nearly drew. We fought until the very last second.”

❌ Due to suspension, Jose Luis Gaya will miss Valencia's next match. Meanwhile, Sergi Canos, Thierry Correia, and Alberto Mari remain in the "Bats'" infirmary. 

Getafe

📌 A special mention goes to Adrian Liso. The 20-year-old Spanish forward was brought in on loan from Zaragoza during the offseason. His impressive physical attributes allow him to already showcase elite-level football in La Liga. In the first two rounds, Liso has scored 3 goals, which is currently the best in the league. Another key asset for Getafe is Krištian Uche, who perfectly fits José Bordalás's physical style of play and remains effective in aerial duels.

❌ Getafe's injured players are nearing a return to the pitch, but José Bordalás is not rushing their comeback at the expense of their health. As a result, the participation of Kiko Femenía and Juanmi in the clash against Valencia remains uncertain. 

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

As previously mentioned, Getafe play a physical brand of football, often resulting in numerous fouls. This season, the "city team" averages 20.5 fouls per match. In comparison, Valencia's average is just 9. In head-to-head encounters, the numbers are similar: 19.1 versus 14.1. The yellow card stats reflect this as well, with Getafe receiving 4.1 compared to Valencia's 3. We believe the most sensible bet here is Getafe to win the yellow card battle.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Let's focus on current trends that could guide our betting choices. Firstly, in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head matches between these teams, there have been no more than 2 goals scored. Secondly, the same trend holds true for 5 of Valencia's last 6 games. The cautious tactical approach of both sides is unlikely to produce a goal-fest at the Mestalla – under 2 goals total.

🚩 Corner Prediction

After the first two rounds, Getafe have been allowing a significant number of corners against them – around 7 per game. Meanwhile, Valencia have averaged 6 corners per match this season. It's important to note that Getafe intentionally concede possession to exploit opponents' weaknesses during transitions. We expect a similar pattern in the upcoming match. Our editorial choice is Valencia to win the corner count.