Preview: Valencia CF vs. Atletico Madrid (Saturday 4:15pm CET)

Valencia CF host Atletico Madrid at Mestalla this Saturday (4:15pm CET) on Matchday 11 of the LaLiga season. The team will attempt to build on positive results against Real Madrid and Deportivo Alavés in recent weeks, and claim a home win that would lift them up the Primera División table.

Unbeaten in November, they take on an Atletico Madrid side who are the only team still to lose in league action this term. Los Colchoneros have 20 points from a possible 24 in 2020/21, having conceded just twice.

Javi Gracia's men have gone three games unbeaten, starting with a draw against Getafe and including a win over reigning LaLiga champions Real Madrid. Last time out, they came back from 2-0 down to claim a draw against Deportivo Alavés.

Atletico Madrid are currently second in LaLiga, and have played 8 games so far this season. Most recently, a goal from Yannick Carrasco earned them a 1-0 win against FC Barcelona, and since then they have been in Champions League action, drawing 0-0 with Lokomotiv Moscow.

Los Colchoneros' last away game in domestic competition was a 1-3 win over CA Osasuna on November 3rd.

The two most recent games between the two teams took place in the 2019/20 league season, and both matches ended in draws. At the Wanda Metropolitano in October 2019, Diego Costa put Atletico Madrid ahead in the 36th minute, with Denis Cheryshev equalising just 3 minutes later in a 1-1 draw.

Back in February, Valencia CF twice came back from behind in a 2-2 stalemate. On the scoresheet were Gabriel Paulista and Geoffrey Kondogbia -now an Atletico Madrid player after joining in the past month.

Valencia CF will be missing José Luis Gayà this weekend, after he was forced off against Alavés with a hamstring injury. Denis Cheryshev is also unavailable, as is Jasper Cillessen.

Atletico Madrid are without Diego Costa, Hector Herrera, Manu Sanchez and Sime Vrsaljko due to respective injuries, whilst Luis Suarez and Lucas Torreira will sit out the contest due to recent positive coronavirus tests while on international duty with Uruguay.

Kickoff: 4:15pm CET

Stadium: Mestalla.

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea.

VAR: Alejandro Hernández Hernández.