LaLiga: Real Valladolid vs Valencia preview

Valencia are looking to secure qualification to next season's UEFA Champions League on the last day of the season, all they need is a win when they face Real Valladolid at Jose Zorrilla Stadium on Saturday. The reverse fixture was a tough one for Valencia, it ended 1-1 as Ruben Alcaraz scored a late equalizer for Valladolid after Daniel Parejo had opened the scoring for the home side. That was the third consecutive draw between these two teams, but Valladolid have spent the last four seasons in the second tier. Valladolid have not won a match against Valencia since 2009. Real Valladolid have already achieved their goal this season, they secured their survival in LaLiga and that's a very important thing for the club after four seasons in Segunda Division. They did struggle in and around the relegation zone all season, but they managed to put together a good string of results in the last six matches, they lost just one of them and that was to second-placed Atletico Madrid. Last week they grabbed a 2-1 victory at already relegated Rayo Vallecano, a result that guaranteed their safety with a game to spare. Luismi, Pablo Hervias, Stiven Plaza and Anuar Mohamed are injured for the home side. Valencia have their European fate in their own hands on the last day of the season, they are in fourth place and tied on 58 points with fifth-placed Getafe, but hey have better results in this season's direct clashes so they don't need to worry about their rivals' result against Villarreal. Valencia have finished fourth last season as well, they got to the Champions League group stage but then ended up in the Europa League, where they got knocked out in the semi-finals by Arsenal last week. They recovered from that disappointment with a 3-1 victory over Alaves in LaLiga at the weekend. Denis Cheryshev is out injured, while Ezequiel Garay might also miss out due to a muscular problem. Probable line-ups: Valladolid: Masip - Moyano, Olivas, Calero, Nacho - Plano, Michel, Alcaraz, Rubio - Guardiola, Unal Valencia: Domenech - Piccini, Diakhaby, Paulista, Gaya - Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Guedes - Mina, Moreno My prediction: Valencia to win 2-1, the visitors are motivated and they should fight hard for the three points that would take them to next season's Champions League. Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: Valladolid win - 8.00 Draw - 5.25 Valencia win - 1.36