Valencia come into this one with a spring in their step after a 2-0 friendly win over Hercules at Mestalla in mid-August. That result, plus the arrival of Ryunosuke Sato from FC Tokyo and free agents Aliou Dieng and Justin De Haas, shows a squad being rebuilt with purpose under Corberan. They look sharp, organised, and hungry to push for European football. Celta, meanwhile, have been less convincing. A 2-2 draw against Academico de Viseu in a friendly is hardly the stuff of nightmares, but it's not the kind of result that strikes fear into opponents either. They've got quality in attack, but there are question marks at the back. Valencia at home, in front of their own fans, with momentum from a clean sheet — we love that.

Celta's pre-season has been a mixed bag, and the injury to Impact Duran — who had five goals and two assists last season — is a real blow. He's out for three months after shoulder surgery, and that takes a chunk out of their creative spark. Valencia, by contrast, look settled. They've got a clear identity, a new-look spine, and the kind of defensive solidity that wins tight games. At Mestalla, with the crowd behind them, they'll fancy their chances against a Celta side still finding their rhythm. This is the kind of fixture where home advantage and pre-season sharpness can tip the balance.