H2H: Alavés vs Valencia – Prediction (La Liga

H2H: Alavés vs Valencia – Comparison.

With his fourth minute match opener, Lucas Pérez became Alavés’ sixth player to record their opening goal in LL this campaign. Maxi Gómez remains Valencia’s only player to score in two LL away trips in 2020/21, also scoring in their last LL away victory. Both teams’ last six LL opening goals have all been recorded by different players.

Alavés Insights.

Amid a run of just one defeat across their last five La Liga (LL) games (W2, D2), Alavés return home after consecutive 1-1 draws, with the match favourite now having won just one-third (W3, D3, L3) of their league games at any venue. Scoring first has been a good indicator in Alavés’ games this campaign, with no side losing after scoring first in their generally low scoring games (1.89 match goals on average per game). Alavés’ home fixtures this season have also been anything but thrilling (W1, D2, L2). Their recent draw with Barcelona was the first to see both teams score, whilst all five LL home fixtures have seen two or fewer match goals. Furthermore, just two goals have been recorded by any team within the first 60 minutes here – both in the 31st-45th+ minute period.

Valencia Insights.

Perhaps the arrival of Valencia, who have conceded the opening goal in three of four LL away fixtures within 20 minutes, can be the catalyst for change. Three of those also saw a 2-1 defeat and since the start of 2016/17, all ten H2H meetings have seen both teams score, with a 2-1 result to either team in seven of those! Whilst the team to open the scoring has gone on to win all four of Valencia’s LL 2020/21 away encounters, it’s worth noting that the match winner has taken the most corner kicks in just one of Valencia’s LL matches at any venue and has retained the most possession in only three (when excluding draws).