Current Form and Expectations

For yet another season, Real Zaragoza finds itself struggling at the bottom of the league table, while Real Valladolid is striving to make its stay in the Segunda Division as brief as possible. Will the home side be able to reverse their unfortunate trend?

Last season, Zaragoza barely secured survival, finishing in a precarious 18th place. Three rounds into the new campaign, they sit at 19th. While it might be premature to draw definitive conclusions, significant improvements in their gameplay are not anticipated. Their upcoming match against Valladolid, boasting the sixth most valuable squad in the league, should reveal the true capabilities of Gabi’s team. Gabi, a former Atletico Madrid stalwart under Diego Simeone, has seen his Zaragoza side perform poorly in their first three official matches, only managing to secure their first point in their last game—a 1-1 draw against Castellón. Surprisingly, his squad is valued even higher than their upcoming opponents, ranking fifth in the league in terms of squad value.

Valladolid’s Resurgence Under New Leadership

Real Valladolid also underwent a coaching change, but their new manager has immediately delivered results. The 56-year-old Guillermo Almada brings 15 years of independent coaching experience, primarily from Latin America, as he hails from Uruguay. The standout feature of Valladolid under Almada is their exceptionally solid defense. The team has yet to concede a single goal this season, dropping only two points due to an outstanding performance by the Córdoba goalkeeper.

Key Matchup Analysis and Prediction

In contrast, Zaragoza has conceded five goals this season. The extensive experience within many of Valladolid’s players, coupled with the relative inexperience of Zaragoza’s footballers and coach, should tip the scales in favor of the ‘white and violets.’ To play it safe, a neutral handicap bet is advisable.