Competition: Spanish Segunda
Market: Sporting Gijon win
Odds: 21/20 @ Pribet
Hoping to find a route into the play-off places on Sunday lunchtime, Sporting Gijon will host relegation scrappers Real Valladolid this weekend.
Starting with the hosts, opening Sunday’s fixtures sat just one-point adrift of skyrocketing themselves back into the play-off places, Sporting Gijon should feel that they have been handed a golden opportunity here. Last seen mounting a second-half comeback on their travels as they snatched a 1-1 stalemate away at Albacete, Borja Jimenez’s men have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous five consecutive Segunda appearances. Signing off January with a thumping 30 romp at home against Mirandes, the former Leganes boss will also be excited by his side’s extended success at the Estadio Municipal. Last seen in front of their own supporters securing a 2-1 victory against Huesca, it should be noted that Sporting have suffered just a single Segunda defeat on home soil since the end of September. Likewise, winning their previous two Segunda showdowns in Asturias by an aggregate score of 5-1, Jimenez’s camp are pencilled in as a standout contender this weekend.
As for the visitors, losing their La Liga status and coming under a huge amount of scrutiny last season, Real Valladolid find themselves at the heart of a public crisis. Last seen putting in a woeful display as they slumped to a 5-1 drumming away at Granada, Sunday’s guests are once again in the midst of another infamous relegation scrap. Sat in the drop zone and opening their trip to Estadio Municipal sat one-point adrift of safety, Fran Escriba’s struggling squad have broken plenty of unwanted records this year. Getting February underway with a 4-0 defeat at home against Castellon, Valladolid have now lost all of their previous four consecutive Segunda appearances by an aggregate score of 13-2. Signing off January with a routine 3-1 loss away at Cordoba, it is no surprise that the Pucelle have gained a real reputation for their glaring defensive struggles. In fact, Sunday’s guests have shipped at least a trio of goals in four of their last five matchups on the road.
Bet: Sporting Gijon 21/20 to beat Real Valladolid in Sunday’s Segunda showdown @ Pribet
