Pinnacle Predictions and Tips for Today’s Football Matches

• Valencia are currently enduring their worst return after 25 rounds of a La Liga (LL) campaign since 1985/86 (W6, D9, L10), but two wins from their previous five top-flight outings (W2, D1, L2) has pulled them clear of the relegation battle for now. In fact, the four won/lost LL matches during that run all saw only one side score, emphasizing the importance of scoring first.
• Enjoying a four-game unbeaten LL run at home (W2, D2), the hosts can thank their never-say-die attitude for the two draws as they came back from behind in each, and have now picked up points in four of seven home league matches in which they conceded first this term (W2, D2, L3).
• Sitting just outside LL’s top six, visiting Villarreal saw their winless run stretched to seven top-flight matches last time out (D5, L2), which is their longest such run in over two years! A quick start could be on the cards though, as all but one of their previous 19 LL fixtures – goalless draws excluded – have now witnessed the opening goal scored within 25 minutes.
• Although winless in four of their last five LL road trips (W1, D3, L1), the visitors will start this Valencian Country Derby as favorites, a tag they remain unbeaten under across all seven such top-flight away games this term (W3, D4). Furthermore, entertaining first halves appear to be a theme for Villarreal on the road, as their top-flight away fixtures have averaged a league-high 1.75 first-half match goals.
• Players to watch: Carlos Soler has been involved in 36.67% of Valencia’s league goals this season (six goals, five assists), whilst for Villarreal, their most likely dangerman appears to be Gerard Moreno who has scored the opener within 20 minutes in his last five goalscoring LL away matches.
• Hot stat: Villarreal have scored a league-high 86.67% of their away goals before HT.

Kick-off: 21:00 | Prediction: Over 1.5 Goals | Odds: 1.36@Pinnacle