Preview: Valencia vs. Getafe - prediction, team news, lineups

Valencia will be looking to recover from three straight defeats in La Liga when they continue their 2020-21 campaign at home to Getafe on Sunday night.

Los Che have only picked up seven points from their first seven matches of the season to sit down in 14th position in the table, while Getafe are ninth with 10 points to show from their first six fixtures of 2020-21.

Match preview

To suggest that all is not well at Valencia would be a slight understatement, with issues behind the scenes now translating to poor results on the field, which has further angered the club's supporters.

Los Che head coach Javi Gracia recently revealed that he wants to leave the club and is only remaining in his position due to a contractual obligation, with the former Watford manager allegedly unhappy with the amount of key players that were allowed to leave during the recent transfer window.

Midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia has also accused the club's president Anil Murthy of 'destroying an ambitious project', and it does appear that it will be a long and difficult season for the Spanish giants.

Valencia's start to the campaign was fairly solid - picking up seven points from their first four matches - but they have lost each of their last three against Real Betis, Villarreal and Elche to slide down the table.

Gracia still has a lot of talented players at his disposal but another poor result this weekend would leave the team in a tough spot ahead of their next game at home to Real Madrid on November 8.

Getafe, though, have made a relatively solid start to the season, picking up 10 points from their opening six matches to sit in ninth position, only four points off the top of the table.

That said, the capital side have struggled for consistency and were unable to build on a 1-0 win over Barcelona on October 17 as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Granada last weekend.

Jose Bordalas's side finished eighth in the league last season, missing out on a spot in the Europa League in the process. The Madrid club will again be looking to push for the top seven this term, and the fact that they have no European distractions could help them.

Getafe, somewhat surprisingly, have only actually lost one of their last eight league matches with Valencia and ran out 3-0 winners when the two teams last locked horns back in February.

Valencia La Liga form: LDWLLL

Getafe La Liga form: WDWLWL

Team News

Valencia will be without the services of Mouctar Diakhaby due to a hamstring issue, while Kondogbia has missed the team's last two matches with a muscular problem and remains a doubt.

Jose Gaya started ahead of Toni Lato on the left against Elche and that could again be the case this weekend, with English youngster Yunus Musah potentially keeping his spot on the right.

Kevin Gameiro could again be joined by Goncalo Guedes in the final third of the field, while Hugo Guillamon is expected to replace the injured Diakhaby in central defence despite the fact that Eliaquim Mangala is available once again following a recent injury.

As for Getafe, Bordalas currently has a full squad to choose from, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field from the start against Granada.

Jaime Mata is a certain starter in attack and should again be joined by Cucho Hernandez, while Marc Cucurella and Allan Nyom are expected to feature in the wide positions.

Angel and Enes Unal are both pushing for spots in the XI, having featured off the bench against Granada, but the pair are likely to be named among the substitutes once again.

Valencia possible starting lineup: Domenech; Correia, Gabriel, Guillamon, Lato; Musah, Soler, Wass, Gaya; Gameiro, Guedes

Getafe possible starting lineup: Soria; Suarez, Dakonam, Cabaco, Olivera; Nyom, Maksimovic, Arambarri, Cucurella; Mata, Hernandez

We say: Valencia 1-1 Getafe

This is a very difficult match to call as Getafe are capable of matching the best sides in the league, but they are also guilty of being inconsistent. Valencia will be determined to end their recent losing run, and we expect Los Che to pick up a point from Sunday's encounter at the Mestalla.

Top betting tip

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