Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Getafe will be looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Las Palmas when they take on Valencia in the La Liga round 16 opener. Los Azulones are after their third consecutive win at home ground, but Friday’s game will be anything but a walk in the park for the capital club. Defender Omar Alderete is banned for the match, while all Jose Angel Carmona, Mauro Arambarri, and Enes Unal are out of contention with injuries.
Los Che, on the other hand, aim to put an end to their three-game winless run. Valencia have been struggling on the road this season and given Getafe’s fine home record, we do not believe that the visitors are capable of grabbing something from the match. Fit-again Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby is pushing for a start, while both Jose Gaya and Andre Almeida continue to miss out with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Djené):
A central defender who can equally be deployed as a right-back, Djene Dakonam has emerged as one of the most influential Getafe players in the 2017/18 season. His road to prominence was a long one, however, and Djene had to bide his time in order to be recognized for quality he undoubtedly possesses. Dapaong-born Togolese international, Djene Dakonam made his first football steps as a youth member of Etoile Filante.
Spells in Benin and Cameroon with Tonnerre d’Abomey and Coton Sport, respectively, saw Djene Dakonam grab attention of Alcoron, who moved in to bring him to Spain in 2014. During two years in Spain Djene Dakonam made 59 league appearances before moving to Sint-Truidense. It was in Belgium that Djene Dakonam proved his defensive versatility and Getafe came calling the very next year, in 2017.
Djene proved to be an instant hit with the Azulones and is hoping a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs will not be too far away for him. The likes of Arsenal and Tottenham have been sniffing around him during the summer transfer window in 2018 but were ultimately scared off by his £31 million release clause.
Highlighted Team (Valencia):
Founded on March 18, 1919, Valencia FC are a Spanish football club that compete in La Liga. Los Che play their home games at Estadio de Mestalla, the stadium which was opened back in May, 1923. The capacity of the venue is 50,000. Seeing that bats are quite common in Valencia, it is no surprise they are nicknamed the Bats.
Valencia made it to the Champions League final on two occasions (2000, 2001), but they were beaten in the title games by Real Madrid and Bayern Munchen respectively. The Spanish club, though, did well to win the UEFA Cup title in the 2003/2004 season, with the team beating Marseille in the final of the competition.
A number of top-class footballers were part of the club in the past, with the likes of Pablo Aimar, Ruben Baraja, David Albelda, Santiago Canizares, John Carew and Gaizka Mendieta all playing for the Estadio de Mestalla outfit. Valencia main colors are white and black, whilst they often where orange jerseys and shorts when playing on the travels.