Zaragoza x Valladolid – Palpite & Prognóstico (22.01.2022)

Following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burgos, Real Valladolid will look to put an extra pressure on league leaders Almeria when they take on Zaragoza in the Segunda Division derby. La Pucela are on a four-game winning run in La Liga2, with the team eyeing their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Cristo is pushing for a rare start after scoring as a substitute in the last league match, while Weismann and Plano should be deployed up front in the 4-4-2 formation.

Los Blanquillos, on the other hand, suffered a dip in form, with the team losing to all Almeria, Tenerife, and Mirandes, while sharing the spoils with Ponferradina. Considering that Zaragoza have been struggling in front of goal of late, we believe that punters from all around the globe can find value in betting on under 2.5 goals. Midfielder Valentin Vada is back from suspension for the hosts.

HIGHLIGHTED PLAYER

Alvaro Gimenez

Alvaro Gimenez is a product of Elche football school who plays for fellow La Liga side Cadiz as a forward. Alvaro played for several Spanish clubs in the past, including Elche, Valencia B, Torrellano, Mallorca, Alcorcon, Almeria, before joining Birmingham City in the 2019/20 season.

After scoring only three goals in 24 appearances for the Blues in the Championship, Alvaro Gimenez returned to Spain at the end of the season, signing a deal with La Liga newcomers Cadiz. The Spanish attacker made his debut with the “Yellow Submarine” on October 4, 2020 in a 1-1 draw with Granada. His main position is centre-forward, but he is used as both left and right winger as well.

Gimenez’s preferred foot is left, and his contract with Cadiz should expire on June 30, 2023. The Cadiz attacker has three caps with the Spain U17 team, but he has yet to earn a call-up for the senior team.

HIGHLIGHTED TEAM

Valladolid

Real Valladolid is a Spanish club based in Valladolid, the part of the autonomous community of Castille and Leon. Founded in 1928, Real Valladolid play their home matches at Jose Zorilla, the venue that has the capacity 26,512. La Pucela have yet to win the La Liga title, but it is important to note that they finished fourth at the end of the 1962/1963 season.

Real Valladolid made it to the Spanish Cup final on two occasions (1949/1950, 1988/1989). In 1984 they won Copa de la Liga (League Cup), which is considered the team’s biggest success. Speaking of their European records, Real Valladolid participated in the 1989/1990 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals.

La Pucela are well known for their purple and white shirts, but they are known for some top-class footballers as well. The likes of Diego Costa, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Borja Fernandez, Rene Higuita, Luis Garcia and Aritz Aduriz played for Real Valladolid in the past.