Getafe – Valencia

Getafe and Valencia have to take risks given their tournament position

On Monday 20 February, two outsiders will close out the 22nd round of La Liga. Getafe will take on Valencia at home. Both teams are in terrible form. The management of Getafe are surprisingly patient and have not sacked coach Kike Sanchez Flores even after seven games without a win. The team has yet to win in 2023. There was some hope for a bright future in two rounds. Getafe managed to hold on in Madrid, where they snatched a draw from Atletico. Also in the last round, Flores' side were able to bounce back at home against Rayo Vallecano. The momentum is positive, but two points from seven meetings has already sent the team into last place in La Liga. Getafe urgently need to win. A defeat to Valencia is already likely to trigger the coach's resignation. It's not there yet, perhaps because of the relatively high-quality defensive play. This has been a long-standing trump card for Getafe. The club, despite poor results, does not allow opponents to create many chances at their goal. They have not conceded more than two goals in La Liga 2023. At the same time, there is an urgent need to do something about the attack. The group looks solid in name, given the health of Unal and Majoral, but they create the least amount of danger. Valencia have managed to find themselves in an even more difficult position. The team has one more point than Getafe. That's where the advantage ends. "The Mice have suffered five defeats in a row in the Spanish league. The resignation of the coach had no positive impact. Gattuso has left the club and no new permanent coach has been found. For now, the coach's place is taken by local veteran Voro. Valencia also have global difficulties in attack. Two goals have been scored in the last five meetings. Injuries have also been a problem. Edinson Cavani, the team's top scorer, is out for almost the rest of the season. There is no real alternative to him at the moment. Castillejo will also not play in the next meeting due to his suspension. Bookmakers are giving very high odds on the top total of the match. This seems logical. Both teams are barely scoring, but we can look at the match from a different angle. A draw would be in favour of the rivals. The two teams need a win to break their black streak. In the case of Getafe, even a draw could cost Kike Sanchez Flores his job. Plus Valencia's defence is one of the worst in La Liga in recent matches. Getafe will have space for their combinations. In the first round, the opponents had an anomalous encounter. Valencia won 5-1. Of the last six head-to-head matches, four of them saw more than 2 goals. In a match between direct rivals, there should be room for risk.