Valencia VS Manchester United Match Prediction
2018-12-12
20:00:00
Valencia
VS
Manchester United
Our Prediction Tip
Manchester United will win this match.
2018-12-1220:00:00 Manchester United will win this match.
This will be the tenth competitive match between these two sides, with the goalless draw at Old Trafford in October the sixth in the nine previous matches between the two. Valencia have only beaten United once, and never in the Champions League, with their last meetings in the 2010-11 group stage. A 1-0 United win in Valencia preceded a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on that occasion. The only player likely to be involved from those 2010 matches, however, is Juan Mata – who was a Valencia player at the time.
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Manchester United have been difficult to back this season because of their inconsistency and yet they have managed to secure a place in the Champions League knock-out stages.
Two away wins have been key to that, because their form at Old Trafford has not matched, and that includes the goalless draw with Valencia.
Now, on their travels again, the pressure is off as they prepare to face Valencia and that should ease some tension around the club.
With freedom to express, United could continue the sort of goalscoring form they showed in beating Fulham last time out.
Romelu Lukaku has been back in the goals, while the likes of Marcus Rashford need to follow their recent goals with a run of success in front of goal to get the confidence flowing again.
United are short at the back but the goals have not flowed for Valencia this season either and the visitors can grab another morale-boosting win.
For all their poor performances, they have remained unbeaten since their Manchester Derby loss – albeit with three draws in five games in there – but it shows they are difficult to beat.
United have won two from two away from home in the Champions League this season and Jose Mourinho’s side can complete a clean sweep in Valencia.
United’s inconsistency means most bookmakers have them as narrow outsiders for this one – Bet365 are offering a best price of 19/10 on United to win, whereas Valencia are 8/5.
Jose Mourinho’s side hit four goals last weekend, however, and have two away wins from two games so far in the Champions League. United to win and draw not bet is still a generous 26/25 from 888sport.
Both teams to score has been set at 10/13 with 10Bet, while United to win and BTTS is worth a best price of 9/2 from Bet365.
Romelu Lukaku has been back in the goals of late and is 21/10 to score at any time with Betway. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, is 5/2 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Valencia are narrow favourites with the bookmakers but United have, by hook and by crook, won both away games so far this season. A third can follow now.
Denis Cheryshev was back on the bench at the weekend, while Rodrigo also returned from a one-game absence and Cristiano Piccini was back the previous week. It means Valencia are getting back to full strength. Moukhtar Diakhaby’s last-minute equaliser at the weekend may not be enough to earn him a start, however, with Ezequiel Garay and Gabriel Paulista the current preferred centre-back partnership.
Santi Mina – His six goals in 13 games so far this season makes him top scorer for Valencia.
Denis Cheryshev – A star of Russia’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals and pushing for a recall having recovered from injury.
Rodrigo – The Spain forward has not hit the same form as at international level this season but remains a threat up front.
Valencia lost their last Champions League game, 1-0 away at Juventus, before a 2-0 league defeat at Real Madrid. Michy Batshuayi scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 Copa del Rey win at home to Eibar, however, before last weekend’s 1-1 draw with high-flying Sevilla – Moukhtar Diakhaby’s last-minute equaliser earning a point.
With injury concerns at the back, Jose Mourinho could be forced to play a second-string defensive line even if he had not intended doing so for what is realistically a dead rubber. Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw are injury concerns, meaning Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are set to pair up at the back. Alexis Sanchez is a long-term absentee, while Anthony Martial missed out on the win against Fulham due to injury too.
Romelu Lukaku – After a difficult season so far, the Belgian has scored twice in the last three league games to show signs he is getting back to his best.
Marcus Rashford – Hit and miss at times but with Martial and Sanchez out the England striker needs to find some consistency.
Marouane Fellaini – Scored the last-minute winner against Young Boys to earn United’s last-16 place – otherwise this game would have been must win.
Manchester United have not lost since their Manchester derby defeat to City but they have drawn three of their five matches. A goalless draw with Crystal Palace was followed by Marouane Fellaini’s late winner against Young Boys, before back-to-back 2-2 draws against Southampton and Arsenal. Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera netted at Southampton, after United went 2-0 down early on, before Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard both scored equalisers in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Ashley Young, Juan Mata, Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were all on target in a 4-1 defeat of Fulham last weekend, however.
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