Football Recommendations for January 7th: Arsenal, Valencia, Win-Draw-Loss, Score Analysis
Tuesday 003 EFL Cup: Arsenal vs Newcastle
Arsenal has achieved an impressive record of 11 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses after 20 rounds, ranking second in the league table. They are only six points behind Liverpool at the top, giving them renewed hope and opportunity to compete for the title. In the EFL Cup, Arsenal successfully advanced to the semi-finals by overturning Crystal Palace 3-2 in the last round of the quarter-finals. Over the past 10 matches in various competitions, Arsenal has remained unbeaten with 7 wins and 3 draws, averaging 2.4 goals per game, demonstrating a powerful offensive performance.
Newcastle United currently sits fifth in the Premier League with a record of 10 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses after 20 rounds. The team is just one point away from the top four in the Champions League zone, so it remains to be seen whether they will be distracted in this match. This season, Newcastle has scored 34 goals while conceding only 22, showing a decent performance on both offense and defense. In the last league match, Newcastle United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away, securing a six-match winning streak in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Brentford at home in the last round of the EFL Cup to advance to the semi-finals. The team's morale is currently high.
Both teams have been in good form recently. Arsenal still has FA Cup matches ahead, with a tighter schedule and one less day of rest than Newcastle, which may pose some physical challenges. On the other hand, Newcastle has already been eliminated from the Champions League and can now focus solely on the league and cup competitions, with a relatively relaxed schedule. Initially, the odds were set at a medium-high level for the home team, but they have since increased. Considering their past encounters, Arsenal has had a clear advantage at home, often winning by a margin of two goals. However, the higher odds for the home team are not favorable, leading us to believe that Newcastle may perform better in this match.
Prediction: Draw or Loss for Arsenal
Details: 1-1/1-2
Number of Goals: 2/3
Half-time/Full-time: Draw-Draw/Draw-Loss
Tuesday 004 Copa del Rey: Edens vs Valencia
Edens is currently ranked 19th in the Segunda División, within the relegation zone. Their last home match ended in a draw against Elche without scoring any goals, and the most recent league match also ended in a draw away against Santander, conceding two goals during this period. Their defense is not performing well, and overall, the team's performance is average. They typically use a 4-4-2 formation, excelling in low defensive positions and long-range counterattacks. Their main attacking route is through the right flank, with Otunio and Chapella posing the greatest threat to the opponent's goal, although they have not scored recently.
Valencia also needs to fight for relegation. They have won only one match out of their last six, and recently against Real Madrid, they took the lead first but were overtaken by two goals when the opponent was down to ten men, resulting in a disappointing outcome. Due to this loss, they have gone five matches without a win. Following their usual approach in the Copa del Rey, Valencia's starting lineup in the 4-2-3-1 formation will likely consist of a mix of starters and substitutes.
The fundamentals of the two teams differ significantly. Although Valencia's overall performance this season has been poor, they should still have enough pulling power when facing lower-tier teams from the Segunda División. Valencia's initial support of three levels as the away team seems neither too shallow nor too deep, which is quite reasonable. Later adjustments reduced it to two levels, lowering the threshold for Valencia to succeed, which is a common tactic to entice bets on Valencia. Edens has no such appeal, so we predict that Edens can hold their ground.
Prediction: Win or Draw for Edens
Details: 1-1/0-0
Number of Goals: 0/2
Half-time/Full-time: Draw-Draw