One of the most evenly balanced ties of the Champions League playoff round kicks off on Wednesday when Spanish side Valencia will take on French outfit Monaco. The first leg takes place in Spain, where Valencia will try to secure even a slight advantage ahead of next week's return leg. The two sides have met in a friendly match in the summer of 2014, it ended 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium in London. The only previous meeting was in the 1980-81 European Cup Winners' Cup first round, when Valencia defeated Monaco 5-3 on aggregate.
Valencia finished fourth in the Primera Liga table last season, just one point behind Atletico Madrid who advance automatically to the group stage. Sevilla have also qualified for the Champions League group stage after winning the Europa League, so if Valencia pull through Spain will have five teams in the group stage. Valencia have won eight of their last nine home matches against French sides but they were beaten by PSG last time out.
Monaco had an impressive Champions League run last season, making it to the quarter-finals. They knocked out Arsenal in the last sixteen but were defeated by Juventus in the last eight. They finished third in Ligue 1 last season, behind PSG and Lyon. This summer they have lost a few key players, including Geoffrey Kondogbia, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Lucas Ocampos while the most important new signing was Ivan Cavaleiro from Benfica. They have played in the third qualifying round, where they knocked out Young Boys with a comfortable 7-1 aggregate victory.
Probable line-ups:
Valencia: Ryan - Barragan, Mustafi, Orban, Gaya - Feghouli, Parejo, Gomes, De Paul - Negredo, Alcacer
Monaco: Subasic - Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Kurzawa - Toulalan, Moutinho - Cavaleiro, Silva, El Shaarawy - Martial
My prediction: Valencia to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Valencia win - 1.83 Draw - 3.60 Monaco win - 5.00
Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
Like I expected Valencia managed to defeat AS Monaco last night.WIth 3 1 win,the Bats are favourites to get trough to the group stage of Champions League.Valencia was not selling their best players at the end of last season and that is their biggest strength.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
GREGJO
8 years ago
Wow, this is unbelievable. Johnny, Your correct score picks are fantastic. 3-1, boom. Congratulations! I would be very grateful if you could be so kind and tell us Your secret. Do You use a mathematical formula or is it only by Your senses and not more? Because Your hit ratio is very high.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
seculla
8 years ago
I totally agree with aleksandar vlaisavljevic, Valencia showed that they are great team and they are in great shape, but on the other side, very rich Monaco have their own attributes, just don't forget how far they reached in Champions League last season. It will be great match tonight and also the second one in Monaco....
I totally agree with aleksandar vlaisavljevic, Valencia showed that they are great team and they are in great shape, but on the other side, very rich Monaco have their own attributes, just don't forget how far they reached in Champions League last season. It will be great match tonight and also the second one in Monaco. I'm sure that we all gonna enjoy in it.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
aleksandar vlaisavljevic 8 years ago
Valencia is in great shape, and I think they will be great tonight, hope they will win, but I do not expect easy match. I agree with sharpe, both teams have their place in CL group stage, shame that one will be out. but I am with Valencia. Great football is infallible.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
rikimartin4444_115925
8 years ago
Very exciting match expect us tomorrow. Two great teams will fight for one place in Champions League group stage. Valencia played very well last season and they success to reinforce their squad with some quality players. But, I think that they don't have experience and Monaco will utilize that. My prediction for first match...
Very exciting match expect us tomorrow. Two great teams will fight for one place in Champions League group stage. Valencia played very well last season and they success to reinforce their squad with some quality players. But, I think that they don't have experience and Monaco will utilize that. My prediction for first match is 1-1 draw.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
sharpe
8 years ago
It's a shame that one of these two teams will going to miss the group stage in the Champions League because with the class squads that both clubs own they have to be there. This will be very equal clash and I have no idea who is going to go trough. Expecting two close games and maybe one goal will decide the winner from...
It's a shame that one of these two teams will going to miss the group stage in the Champions League because with the class squads that both clubs own they have to be there. This will be very equal clash and I have no idea who is going to go trough. Expecting two close games and maybe one goal will decide the winner from this one.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
GREGJO
8 years ago
This is a very good preview again Johnny! Congratulations. But Monaco will be without the services of Layvin Kurzawa, he's suffering an ankle injury. Joao Moutinho also suffered an ankle injury and the Portugese will miss between four and six weeks. In my opinion Valencia are in the driving seat and they can qualify easily...
This is a very good preview again Johnny! Congratulations. But Monaco will be without the services of Layvin Kurzawa, he's suffering an ankle injury. Joao Moutinho also suffered an ankle injury and the Portugese will miss between four and six weeks. In my opinion Valencia are in the driving seat and they can qualify easily for the group stage.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.