When Real Valladolid plays fellow struggling team Espanyol on Friday night, they will be looking to win back-to-back La Liga games for the first time since April 2024.
The visitors, currently ranked 19th in La Liga, will go into the match fresh off a 1-0 victory over Real Betis, while Espanyol, currently ranked 18th, drew 1-1 with Leganes in their most recent meeting.
With four victories, four draws, and eleven losses from their 19 league games this season, Espanyol is now in 18th place in the division, one point ahead of Real Valladolid in 19th place and behind 17th-place Alaves.
Manolo Gonzalez's team is facing a tough season, with one of the weakest defenses in the league. They've allowed 31 goals in 19 matches, and if they want to avoid relegation in 2024-25, their defense will need a serious overhaul.
The Catalan squad has managed to draw three of their last four league games, including a 1-1 tie against Leganes in their most recent match. However, their last win came back in late November, when they defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 at home.
The White and Blues have also struggled recently, losing their last two encounters with Real Valladolid in La Liga, including a 1-0 defeat earlier this season. On a positive note, they did manage to beat Valladolid 2-0 during their time in the Segunda Division last season.
Real Valladolid, on the other hand, has had the upper hand in their recent meetings, winning four out of the last five La Liga matchups. The last time these teams faced off in Barcelona, however, it was the home side who triumphed 1-0 in October 2022.
Valladolid's campaign has been challenging, with just four wins, three draws, and 12 losses from their 19 matches. With only 15 points, they currently sit in 19th place, just two points ahead of last-place Valencia.
However, after defeating Valencia and Real Betis 1-0 in their past two games in front of their home supporters, Diego Cocca's team has now won two of their last three league games, dropping them out of the bottom of the division.
The fact that Real Valladolid has maintained consecutive clean sheets in La Liga games played at home is extremely encouraging, even if they have the poorest defensive record in the league this season, giving up 37 goals in 19 games.
The team's away performance this season is concerning; they have lost eight of their nine league games away from home, scored six goals, and let up twenty-five goals. It is easy to identify the main areas of the team's trouble this season.
Pablo Ramon and Salvi Sanchez will both need to be evaluated before it is decided whether they can play, and Espanyol will once again be without Jose Gragera owing to a thigh issue.
Jofre Carreras and Antoniu Roca are expected to stay in the wide areas, and head coach Gonzalez may select the same team that entered the field for the first whistle against Leganes the previous time out.
Regarding Real Valladolid, Juanmi Latasa is back to playing after a suspension, and as there have been no reports of injuries, the visitors may field a totally healthy team for the match.
