Who: Valencia vs Valladolid
When: Saturday, 15th September 2007, kick-off 2000 CET
Where: Estadio Mestalla, Valencia
After a week of high pressure international qualifiers for a number of European nations, Valencia’s globetrotters return to anything but domestic bliss, with a what appears to be a must win game for Los Che.
Back To The Grindstone
La Liga kicks off again after a somewhat annoying early break in proceedings, and Che boss Quique Flores will have hoped his international stars not only came through their respective qualifiers unscathed, but found some individual form in the process.
A battling victory at Almeria partially made up for the humiliating defeat to Villarreal on opening day, but only another victory (and an expected victory it is) will even begin to suggests the disaster against El Submarino Amarillo was simply a blip. The pressure is on, and there are no excuses this time.
With a tough CL group looming, consistency will be a must for Valencia in the coming month, with Flores needing to rotate the squad to attain the best possible results. It is only then we will see just how intuitive, or just how insane, director Miguel Angel Ruiz was when claiming Los Che have the best squad in La Liga.
Despite the fact Valencia have only suffered the one loss so far, all eyes are on the Mestalla waiting for further drama to unfold.
Bickering Re-Emerges
The back-biting of last season is back on the sports pages yet again, and we haven’t even started the Champions League Group phase.
Last season, differences of opinion between players/technical staff and medical personnel took center stage. after a clutch of injuries, short and long term, denied Flores the services of no less than 11 players at the same time. Individuals such as the terminally crocked Edu openly criticized the Valencia doctors for their apparent contribution to the surfeit of ailments.
Now another of Los Che’s injury-plagued, Vicente, says he no longer has any faith in the Valencia medical staff after a recurrence of an ankle ligament problem has sent him back on the treatment table for a few more weeks. The club have moved swiftly to deal with the outburst and punish the offending winger, undoubtedly in a desperate attempt to avert any souring of dressing-room mood that visibly tarnished segments of last season.
Che reject Asier Del Horno, currently farmed out back to Atheltic Bilbao, levelled a personal attack on Flores also this week, saying he would never play for the club while the former Getafe coach is in charge. His words only contribute the rumours of division between players and manager at the Mestalla, further feeding the news-hungry Spanish foottball dailies.
Mendilibar Sees Silva Lining
Ex-Bilbao and Eibar boss Jose Mendilibar takes his Valladolid outfit south in high spirits after a very good start to a campaign where the newly promoted yo-yo club are leading candidates for the drop.
Catching Espanyol cold in Catalynia on opening day and then battling to a 2-2 draw against Deportivo the following week has given Valladolid an ideal base to work from in the coming weeks. The coach will have hoped rather than expected his team to have the current points haul before the Mestalla clash.
There is now even less pressure on Valladolid than anticipated in this match, given the on-field and rumoured behind-the-scenes problems at Valencia, though Mendilibar is wary of one player many pundits believe will be Los Che’s star of the season – a talent the coach is seen first hand in his time at Eibar – David Silva.
``When Silva arrived at Eibar he was largely unknown, save for some game with the national Under-18 side,'' said the Basque tactician. ``We did not know what he could do, but we soon saw that he was going to be a great player. With his quality, his competitiveness, his bravery and the way he doesn't give anything away, he is the complete player,'' .
COMPETITIVE FORM GUIDE
Valencia
Sept 2 vs Almeria (a) Won 2-1 (Primera Liga)
Aug 29 vs Elfsborg (a) Won 2-1 (Champions League 3 Qualifying Round Leg 2)
Aug 26 vs Villarreal (h) Lost 3-0 (Primera Liga)
Aug 14 vs Elfsborg (h) Won 3-0 (Champions League 3 Qualifying Round Leg 1)
Valladolid
Sept 2 vs Deportivo (h) Drew 2-2 (Primera Liga)
Aug 29 vs Espanyol (a) Won 1-0 (Primera Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Marco Caneira was the only casualty from the midweek international fixtures, while Nikola Zigic came through unscathed and could get some minutes from the bench. Miguel missed the first training session after missing a flight from Portugal, but should figure. The good news is Joaquin and Villa are back from suspension, allowing Silva to revert to the left, and Morientes to reunite with regular strike partner Villa up front. Flores has options in central midfield and defence, with Manuel Fernandes, Alexis and Ivan Helguera vying for a start.
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Canizares, Miguel, Marchena/Alexis, Albiol, Moretti - Joaquin, Albelda, Fernandes/Baraja, Silva - Villa, Morientes
Valladolid
Mendilibar has picked virtually the same eleven in both Liga matches to date, and given the relative success so far, not least in the opening day away win against Espanyol, Basque forward Llorente ishould continue as the sole striker backed my a five man midfield. Camacho is unavailable
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Butelle, Munoz, Borja, Garcia Calvo, Marcos/Oscar Sanchez - Sisinio, Vivar Dorado, Kome, Lopez, Sesma - Llorente
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joaquin was poor against Villarreal, and contributed hugely, together with Flores' tactical naivety, to the thrashing in the second half of that match by showing no inclanation to cover huge gaps down the Che right. Attacking is his strength, and much is expected of the club's record signing this season after he finished last term so strongly.
Ludovic Butelle had limited chances to stake a claim for a regular place in his few seasons at the Mestalla. When he did play, there were flashes of why Valencia at one stage felt the blonde Frenchman could develop into a worthy successor to Canizares in goal. The young 'keeper will have to show in some style that the hosts were wrong to farm him out on loan to Valladolid, if keeping his net from bulging is the ultimate goal of the evening.
Goal.com - Spain - La Liga Preview: Valencia - Valladolid
MD3: Valencia 2 - 1 Valladolid
