In-play Football Tips: Big home advantage for Valencia

Michael Lintorn
25 January 2015

Former Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo scored in both of Valencia's last two home games

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In-play insights to aid your mid-match punting on Ajax v Feyenoord, Brighton v Arsenal and Valencia v Sevilla...

"The hosts have prevailed in 14 of the most recent 18 clashes between Valencia and Sevilla."

Ajax v Feyenoord
Sunday, 11:30
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: Ajax 2.285/4, Feyenoord 3.412/5, The Draw 3.613/5

There has been a strange twist in this Klassieker rivalry: Feyenoord are enjoying less success against Ajax since re-emerging as a major Eredivisie threat than they did in their barren years. Perhaps now that they are back to showing their quality most weekends, the pressure to prove their enduring relevance on these big occasions has eased.

Feyenoord have lost their five meetings with Ajax since 2013 and all three last season followed the same pattern: they took the lead - within seven minutes on both Amsterdam ArenA trips in fact - before ultimately being overwhelmed.

So those planning to back the champions (and why wouldn't you when they have won eight in nine in the Eredivisie and nine in ten at home to Feyenoord?) might be able to snap up even bigger odds than the current 2.285/4 if they wait for the visitors to break the deadlock.

Brighton v Arsenal
Sunday, 16:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Brighton 7.26/1, Arsenal 1.564/7, The Draw 4.57/2

It will be fascinating to see how Arsenal perform given all the risky self-praise that followed their fine 2-0 win at Man City, including claims that they silenced their defensive critics, or that their current attack is better than the one featuring Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie.

Two trends suggest that the Gunners will endure an awkward moment or two at the very least at the Amex Stadium. They haven't kept an away FA Cup clean sheet in eight tries this decade, while Brighton haven't been shut out in 11 FA Cup ties, six of which were against Premier League teams (one against Arsenal in 2013).

This information should enable you to make an in-play profit on one of the Arsenal Win to Nil, Arsenal Clean Sheet or Both Teams to Score markets if the Londoners fire first.

Valencia v Sevilla
Sunday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: Valencia 2.3611/8, Sevilla 3.39/4, The Draw 3.55/2

Valencia and Sevilla have both been superb in the first half of this La Liga season, losing as rarely as Real Madrid and Barcelona and less often than champions Atletico Madrid, but the quality of that trio means that there is likely one Champions League place available, making this a huge match.

Sevilla are in slightly sharper form, though the frequency of home triumphs in this fixture mean that it is advantage Valencia, and that you should consider laying the visitors if they find themselves in front.

There hasn't been an away victory in their past seven showdowns, while there have been just two in 19, and the hosts have prevailed in 14 of the most recent 18 clashes.

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