Valencia v Atletico Madrid: Simeone warns of complacency

Atletico boss Diego Simeone has warned his players not to expect an easy passage into the Europa League final despite travelling to Valencia as 2/7 favourites to qualify.

The former Argentina star has guided his side expertly through Europe’s second competition after elimination from the Champions League, and they became the first side to win ten consecutive fixtures in the tournament with last week’s win.

However, he believes his side is far from guaranteed their passage to the showpiece in Bucharest, as he told Spanish paper AS.

“The win is not decisive, but it’s a result that we all would have taken beforehand,

“We will go to Valencia knowing it will be tough, especially in a great atmosphere.”

Los Che will host their fellow countrymen as the 11/10 favourites to score a win in the Mestalla but at an unfancied 5/2 to progress to the final.

Unai Emery’s men did manage to net twice in the Vicente Calderon and those two strikes could prove crucial if they are to complete an impressive turn around.

The draw is also available at 13/5 and with this result suiting the visitors it could be worth some attention.

Radamel Falcao opened the scoring in the last clash and is 5/1 to repeat that feat here, but Arda Turan netted twice at the weekend and those looking for longer odds may fancy him to do so first here at 10/1.

Valencia will be desperate to score first and their man most likely to make the net bulge is Spanish international Roberto Soldado, who is at 4/1 to break the deadlock.

The hosts are on an incredible run that has seen them concede or score four goals in five of their last six games, whilst the visitors have been on either end of four strikes in two of their last four.

Therefore a price of 7/2 on there being more than 4.5 goals should attract some interest, whilst for those anticipating a thriller, 7 or more goals can be backed at 14/1.