Will Cartagena beat the bats of Valencia?
In the second division, Cartagena have already put the brakes on leaders Almeria, and now the in-form second division club from the port city of the same name are aiming for their next coup. In the cup, the last 32 will be played at home against FC Valencia, in which Cartagena FC are, as expected, only classified as outsiders.
Although the “Albinegros” have been on an impressive winning streak, the role of favourites for the bats from Valencia is understandable given the difference in quality between the two teams. After all, none of Cartagena FC’s recent opponents were anywhere near the calibre of their upcoming cup opponents from the Spanish top flight.
Betting fans who nevertheless want to bet on a cup coup for the “Albinegros” in Cartagena vs. Valencia can pick up odds of up to 3.70 in the event of success. The second division club’s recent home record is encouraging in this regard.
In the last nine games at home, FC Cartagena only lost against Ponferradina. In return, the club from the Spanish port city has won seven of its last nine home games, including the most recent 3-0 win over Mirandes.
Cartagena – Statistics & current form
After a false start at the beginning of the season, FC Cartagena got back on track in time for the end of the first half of the season and still kept their chance of promotion alive. As eighth in the Spanish second division, the “Albinegros” are only one point behind one of the four starting places for the promotion play-offs.
The club from Spain’s southeastern port city won an important away game at leaders Almeria to start the second half of the season and thus scored the maximum points in La Liga 2 for the second time in a row. The second division club also remained unbeaten in the competition for the sixth time in a row.
Cartagena FC won four of their six competitive matches during this period. Among them were the two cup games against Racing Rioja (2:0) and Castellon (2:1) – both away from home. Cartagena will now benefit from home advantage for the first time this season in the Copa del Rey round of 32.
Can the Albinegros back up their home strength?
FC Cartagena’s record in La Liga 2 so far shows just how important home advantage has been in competitive matches at league level. Head coach Luis Miguel Carrión’s side have won seven of their ten league matches at home. Only twice did the team at the bottom of the table lose at home.
With a home record of 7-1-2 and a goal difference of 18:8, the “Albinegros” are one of the strongest teams at home in the Spanish top flight. Only Eibar, Valladolid and Almeria had a better average of points at home (2.36) than FC Cartagena (2.20). Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the “Albinegros” can underpin their home strength against a first division club.
Luis Miguel Carrión will probably only have to do without Andy Kawaya and two other players from the professional team – after positive tests – for the match against the bats from Valencia. Big changes compared to the starting eleven, which already prevailed in Almeria last weekend, are not expected.
Predicted line-up of Cartagena:
Martinez – Delmas, Alcala, Vazquez, Silva – Bodiger, Boateng – Gallar, De Blasis, Cayarga – Castro
Last matches played by Cartagena:
LaLiga2
01/02 2022 – Almeria 0 – 1 Cartagena
12/19 2021 – Cartagena 3 – 0 CD Mirandes
Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – Castellon 1 – 2 Cartagena
LaLiga2
12/12 2021 – Alcorcon 1 – 1 Cartagena
12/06 2021 – Cartagena 1 – 1 Tenerife
Valencia – Statistics & current form
For the bats from Valencia, the first half of the season did not go optimally at all. Nevertheless, Valencia FC fought their way back into the middle of the table in the final spurt of the first half of the season and minimised the gap to the international starting positions with a promising run of success.
In the last match of the first half of the season, Valencia suffered a surprising defeat against Espanyol just a week ago. Before that, the team of head coach Pepe Bordalás remained unbeaten for nine consecutive matches. Among others, Valencia FC also scored against the defending champions from Madrid during this period.
The goal tally of the bats was particularly praiseworthy. In the last ten matches, Valencia scored 19 goals – an average of 1.90 goals per match. Even against the defensive bulwark of Atletico Madrid, the bats delivered an offensive spectacle, scoring three goals in an eventful match.
Will the recent away streak continue?
Bordalás’ side have won four away matches in a row, including a cup tie against lower-ranked Arenteiro that was decided in extra time. If the next away win comes on Wednesday evening, odds of up to 2.20 will be paid on Cartagena vs. Valencia for tip 2.
Four players, including two from the professional team, will miss the cup match against Cartagena FC after the latest test results. Among the players who tested positive is head coach Bordalás, who is expected to be replaced by one of his assistants on an interim basis for the cup match.
Otherwise, only Thierry Correia will have to take a break from Valencia FC due to injury. Compared to the starting eleven that was in action against Espanyol last week, changes at the bats cannot be ruled out. Internally, the top scorer at Valencia FC is currently Soler (7 goals). However, Guedes (6 goals, 4 assists) has the most scoring points.
Predicted line-up of Valencia:
Cillessen – Correia, Paulista, Guillamon, Gaya – Costa, Soler, Wass, Cheryshev – Guedes, Gomez
Last matches played by Valencia:
LaLiga
12/31 2021 – Valencia 1 – 2 Espanyol
12/20 2021 – Levante 3 – 4 Valencia
Copa del Rey
12/16 2021 – CD Arenteiro 1 – 3 Valencia
LaLiga
12/11 2021 – Valencia 2 – 1 Elche
12/05 2021 – Celta Vigo 1 – 2 Valencia
Cartagena – Valencia Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
These two clubs are meeting for the first time ever in a competitive match. Previously, there were only two test matches between Cartagena FC and Valencia. One of the two friendlies was between the two clubs in the summer of 2021, when Valencia won a high-scoring match (3-2) to beat Cartagena in a test match for the second time in a row.
Cartagena – Valencia Tip
At the end of the first leg, Valencia FC have largely compensated for their false start to the 2021/22 season and are back in contention for international places in the Spanish top flight. The bats now want to continue their winning streak in the Copa del Rey and are aiming to reach the round of 16 for the 17th time en suite.
The last time Valencia FC were eliminated from the Copa del Rey before the round of 16 was in the 2004/05 season – just one season after winning the championship in the Spanish top flight. Back then, the cup fairytale for the bats was already over in the second round. It is quite possible that the ongoing Cup series will continue this time as well.
FC Cartagena are in promising form, but the second division side have not faced an opponent of the same calibre as the bats in recent weeks. Therefore, the form curve of the hosts in the cup match against Valencia FC should not be overestimated.
We think the visitors are much stronger than the second division side, especially after their strong first-leg finish, and therefore tend to favour a win for the bats, who will celebrate their fifth away success in a row. For Cartagena vs. Valencia, meanwhile, betting odds of up to 2.20 are available for tip 2. For our prediction, we choose a stake of six units.
