Preview: Granada vs. Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

Valencia will look to add a second straight win to start the La Liga campaign on Saturday, when they make the trip to take on Granada.

The hosts earned a point on the opening day with a goalless draw against Villarreal, while their visitors began with a 1-0 win over Getafe.

Match preview

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After a seventh-placed finish in the 2019-20 campaign, Granada spent the majority of last season in a battle for similar spots.

Under the management of Diego Martinez, the Nazaries occupied seventh spot in February, but their form would take a dip in the final stretch.

A run of four straight defeats and a draw on the final day saw them eventually drop to ninth spot, missing out on European football as a result.

Now under the charge of Robert Moreno following Martinez's departure at the end of last season, they will be keen to bounce back this year and fight their way back into contention for continental qualification, but they faced a tough test to start as they made the trip to take on Europa League champions Villarreal.

Despite being dominated for the majority of the encounter, Granada stood strong to pick up a point in a goalless draw, with Gerard Moreno being denied by a goal-line clearance as the visitors kept a commendable clean sheet.

In their first home league game of the season, they will look to build on that positive start with what would be an impressive home victory.

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They take on a Valencia side who got off to a winning start last week and will aim for a stronger campaign after a worrying season last time around.

Following the sales of several key players in line with ongoing financial struggles, Valencia had a difficult campaign last season, eventually finishing in 13th spot after a poor run under Javi Gracia in the early stages of the year.

Following the appointment of Jose Bordalas in May, they will hope for a new start and a more consistent campaign, and they began in a positive manner last Friday.

Los Murcielagos were fighting an uphill battle from the start as Hugo Guillamon was sent off after just three minutes, but they took an early lead through Carlos Soler nonetheless, and stood strong to see out a 1-0 victory.

Now facing a tough test on their travels, Bordalas's men will hope to make it two wins from two in their bid to establish themselves in the top half this season.

Team News

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Granada centre-back Neyder Lozano is ruled out with a fractured tibia, meaning he will be sidelined for an extended period of time.

Yan Eteki is also a doubt, having missed out on the season opener, and Monchu, Maxime Gonalons and Luis Milla should again line up in the midfield in his absence.

The line will be led by Colombian forward Luis Suarez, who earned a move after hitting 19 league goals in the 2019-20 season for Real Zaragoza in the Spanish second tier.

Valencia will be without midfielder Hugo Guillamon, who will serve a suspension following his red card against Getafe.

Their line will be led by the threatening duo of Goncalo Guedes and Maxi Gomez, supported by the attacking threat of wingers Carlos Soler and Denis Cheryshev.

Twenty-year-old Giorgi Mamardashvili caught eyes with an impressive performance between the sticks last week, as he unexpectedly came into the side due to the injuries to Jasper Cillesen and Jaume Domenech, making several key saves to grind a clean sheet out.

Granada possible starting lineup:
Escandell; Foulquier, Duarte, Sanchez, Neva; Gonalons, Monchu, Milla; Puertas, Suarez, Machis

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Gabriel, Alderete, Gaya; Cheryshev, Racic, Wass, Soler; Gomez, Guedes

We say: Granada 1-1 Valencia

Both sides were particularly impressive on the opening day, and will both come into Saturday's game with quiet confidence.

We cannot quite split them and predict a low-scoring draw between two teams who have shown themselves to be very solid and disciplined at the back.