At 1:00 AM on August 20th, two newly promoted teams will clash in the first round of La Liga. Valladolid will host Espanyol at home. In recent seasons, the trajectories of both teams have been almost identical, and their strength is also similar. Who will win this encounter?
Valladolid has undergone significant changes in the summer transfer window, but their key player from their time in the Segunda División last season, Monchu, has left the team. However, their top scorer from last season, Mamadou Sylla, and Iván Sánchez, who wears the number 10 jersey, have both stayed. After Espanyol’s return to La Liga, their top scorer, Braithwaite, also decided to leave the team, and they have brought in Tottenham forward Bellys and Owen Cardona on loan to fill the void left by Braithwaite.
Last season, the two teams finished in 2nd and 4th place respectively in the Segunda División, with only a 3-point difference in points, which indicates that they are closely matched on paper. Valladolid secured promotion directly, while Espanyol had to overcome two rounds of play-offs to return to La Liga.
It’s worth noting that the two teams have followed a similar rhythm in recent years, both being relegated in the 2022-23 season and then returning to La Liga together in the 2023-24 season.
Valladolid played five friendly matches in the pre-season, achieving a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in regular time. Their last match was a 2-0 victory over Toulouse. Espanyol, on the other hand, played four friendly matches, finishing their preparation with a record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss. Their match against Toulouse ended in a 0-0 draw.
In their last 10 meetings, Valladolid and Espanyol have been evenly matched, with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses each. In the Segunda División last season, Espanyol remained unbeaten with 1 win and 1 draw. In the Copa del Rey, Espanyol eliminated Valladolid. However, in the 2022-23 season, their last time playing in La Liga, both teams secured a victory at their respective home stadiums.
Based on the recent developments of both teams over the past few seasons, the final results of the Segunda División last season, and their head-to-head record, their strength is almost identical. The recent head-to-head record is also evenly matched. In this encounter, Valladolid enjoys home advantage, which might be their only favorable factor.
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