Football Bet of the Day: Sporting chance of a home win

Valencia's frustration to grow

Sporting Gijon v Valencia
Tuesday 08 January, 20:30

It was a good night for us in the north of Portugal last night, and an even better one for Tondela, who raised eyebrows with a superb 2-1 win over Sporting, landing our Over 2.5 Goals bet in the process.

We'll stay within the confines of Iberia, and head to the Spanish city of Gijon, the largest settlement of the Asturias region. Tempting as it is to visit the Gijon aquarium or the Railway Museum, we'll focus on the football, and take in second-tier side Sporting's clash with La Liga side Valencia in the Copa del Rey.

Valencia are having a very curious season, after really impressing last term under wily coach Marcelino. They are currently in mid-table, having drawn ten of their 18 league matches and won just four. They have scored just 16 goals in the league, and Marcelino has pointed the finger of blame at his misfiring strikers on several occasions. None of their quartet of strikers (Kevin Gameiro, Rodrigo, Michy Batshuayi and Santi Mina) have scored more than twice in the top flight this term.

Away from home, Los Che are winless in four, and they may come unstuck again on the road tonight. Although Sporting aren't pulling up any trees in the league, they knocked out Eibar in the last round, and they have a generally strong record at their El Molinon ground. Sporting have lost just one of their 12 home matches this term in league and cup, and they have racked up seven clean sheets in that sequence.

Valencia are odds-on to win this first leg, and I don't believe they should be, so I'll lay the visitors. 

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Lay Valencia at 1.97