Preview: Sporting Gijon vs Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

Valencia make the trip to Sporting Gijon on Tuesday night looking to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

At a time when the visitors sit in 17th position in the La Liga table, the home side are currently occupying seventh spot in the Segunda Division.

Match preview

Despite the credit that he has in the bank from last year, Carlos Corberan remains under pressure to retain his job at Valencia.

While a four-game unbeaten run has recently been put together in La Liga, it featured just the one win at home to bottom-placed Levante by a 1-0 scoreline.

Although positives can be taken from only losing 2-1 at Atletico Madrid last time out, Valencia have now won just three games from their last 15 games in all competitions across normal time.

They needed a 121st-minute goal to overcome Cartagena in the previous round of the Copa del Rey, although they did play the final stages of extra time with 10 men.

Aside from their 4-0 defeat at Real Madrid on November 1, Los Che have not conceded more than twice in a game for 14 matches across all tournaments.

Meanwhile, Sporting Gijon have reached this stage of the Copa del Rey with victories at Caudal Deportivo and Mirandes, keeping clean sheets in both games.

Since his appointment in October, Borja Jimenez has overseen a five-game winless streak in the Segunda Division among his 12 matches in charge.

Nevertheless, he has suffered just the two defeats, and back-to-back victories over Real Sociedad 'B' and Granada have moved Sporting Gijon to within five points of second spot.

You also have to go all the way back to September 28 since Sporting Gijon suffered a defeat at Estadio Muncipal El Molinon, also conceding just three times in their last six league matches at their home stadium.

Sporting Gijon Copa del Rey form:

Sporting Gijon form (all competitions):

Valencia Copa del Rey form:

Valencia form (all competitions):

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Team News

© Imago

Given the step up in class, Jimenez will likely opt to keep alterations to his Sporting Gijon XI down to a minimum.

However, centre-back Lucas Perrin and midfielder Justin Smith are available again after suspension. Pablo Vazquez and Jesus Bernal are both at risk of losing their starting roles.

While Corberan will make changes to his Valencia side, he is unlikely to heavily rotate when he desperately needs a win.

Lucas Beltran could be introduced into the final third, while Javi Guerra appears likely to get a start in midfield. Arnaut Danjuma may also start, depending on the formation.

Baptiste Santamaria would have been in line for a start had he not been sent off in the previous round.

Sporting Gijon possible starting lineup:

Yanez; Rosas, Curbelo, Perrin, Sanchez; Martin, Smith; Gelabert, Corredera, Campos; Otero

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Comert, Copete; Correia, Guerra, Pepelu, Almeida, Vazquez; Beltran, Duro

We say: Sporting Gijon 1-2 Valencia

With Sporting Gijon playing with far more confidence than their La Liga opponents of late, they will back themselves to make further progress in this competition. However, we are predicting that Corberan and co will come through in a hard-fought battle, potentially having gone behind.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.