Last year’s top 4 rivals Valencia and Malaga square off on the opening day of new La Liga campaign, hoping a winning start would get them one step closer to realizing pre-season ambitions.

For the first time after quite a while, los Che missed out on Champions League qualification, with 4-3 defeat to Sevilla on the final day proving decisive.

The Mestalla outfit go into the new campaign with a new coach and a much changed squad, but their ambitions remain pretty much the same.

There’s no denying the likes of Soldado and Tino Costa will be sorely missed, with Fernando Gago and Nelson Valdez also leaving, but some fresh talent has also been signed.

Javi Fuego, Michel, Oriol Romeu and Helder Postiga are all expected to contribute to the team’s cause, and it looks as though new boss Miroslav Djukic has already done a great job in rebuilding the squad.

Following some narrow defeats, Valencia hammered Inter and beat Everton in final warm-up game, so no wonder they are just 1.57 (4/7) with Coral to see off Malaga as well.

Seeing as how forward Paco Alcacer and winger Sofiane Feghouli have resumed full training, Miroslav Djukic should have fully fit squad to choose from.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Alves – Pereira, Rami, R. Costa, Bernat – Fuego, Parejo – Jonas, Banega, Guardado – Postiga.

Even if Malaga were eventually banned from this year’s European competitions, the team had enjoyed a very good season last term.

Los Boquerones narrowly missed out on the place in the semi-finals in their first ever Champions League campaign, while doing really well to achieve a top 6 finish in La Liga.

However, key players have continued to leave La Rosaleda due to difficult financial situation, which basically means the team are even weaker than last term.

Bernd Schuster was trusted to replace Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, but he could have problems rebuilding the squad after the likes of Toulalan, Baptista, Saviola, Isco, Iturra and Joaquin all left.

The club have in turn managed to sign quite a few new players, but having failed to properly replace their star performers, chances are they will struggle this term.

Malaga may be no less than 6.50 (11/2) with 888sport to triumph at Mestalla, but I seriously see no value in odds offered on away win.

Key defender Weligton is set for a two-month spell on the sidelines, but there are no other worries for Bernd Schuster.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Caballero – Gamez, Angeleri, Chen, Antunes – Camacho, Tissone – Duda, Pawlowski, Portillo – Santa Cruz.

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