Espanyol vs Real Valladolid Prediction: Home side to repeat trick in Copa del Rey

It’s a meeting between two clubs battling for promotion to La Liga at the Stage Front Stadium on Tuesday evening (20:00), as Espanyol host Real Valladolid in the Copa del Rey.

Both sides were relegated from Spain’s top-flight last season but have already made strong starts to the current campaign in a bid to get back to the big league.

Valladolid are currently sat third in La Liga 2, despite a 2-0 defeat at fourth-placed Espanyol in October.

Team News

The sides were likely to make changes for the cup, but defeats for both on the weekend should make that even more certain.

For the home team, former Inter and Lazio winger Keita Balde will hope to get a start after coming off the bench on Friday, with Alvaro Aguado and Jofre also in starting contention.

Valladolid could bring Anuar, Lucas Rosa and Bikou into the starting XI.

Match Odds

Espanyol are 23/20 favourites to win the game in 90 minutes on Tuesday, while a draw, priced at 9/4, would take it to extra-time. A victory for the visitors is available at 2/1.

Both teams to score is 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is 4/5.

Both teams to score – NO @ 11/10

Espanyol’s last three games have seen only one side score, and this bet has won 12 times in 19 this season. BTTS – NO has also been a key feature of Valladolid’s matches, happening on 11 occasions for them, including the 2-0 defeat to their next opponents.

The home side have already kept six clean sheets at the Stage Front Stadium this season, while Valladolid have blanked in three away games.

Meanwhile, the last three fixtures between these sides in Barcelona has seen BTTS – NO.

Espanyol to win @ 23/20

Espanyol have an impressive record at home this season, taking 20 points from nine games there in La Liga 2. Their only defeat there was against Leganes, who are four points clear at the top.

Valladolid, meanwhile, have had a mixed start to their away campaign. 12 points from nine games is a solid tally, but there has been no in between for them on their travels, as they have lost five and won four. They’ve particularly struggled against the so-called bigger sides in Espanyol, Levante and Eibar.

It’s likely to be a tight one on Tuesday, but home advantage should see Espanyol edge it.