MD6: Recreativo Huelva - Valencia

[LAF]

Who: Recreativo (7th, 8pts) vs Valencia (3rd, 12pts)
When: Sunday, 30th September 2007, kick-off 21:00 CET
Where: Nuevo Colombino, Huelva

After securing their 4th straight victory in La Liga with a home win against Getafe on Wednesday, Valencia make the trip to face a Recreativo outfit that’s recently hit top gear.

Threatening To Gel

Victories usually quell most doubts and the majority of unrest at football clubs. Recent results (6 consecutive wins in all competitions) has soothed some of the criticism directed at Quique Sanchez Flores on the Che bench.

You have to praise the former Getafe coach for his steely resolve, but he would have been perturbed at the manner in which his charges allowed his former club to get back into the game on Wednesday evening, making for a tense closing period where either side team could have taken the points.

There remains the feeling that this Valencia could be that much better, with many believing a change of coach to be instant remedy. Still, with the team continuing to swell their ‘W’ column, the directors would be hasty to replace Flores at this stage of the season.

Progress has been steady, perhaps a little too steady, but the coach and team can only really be judged on results, as has often been the case in Valencia’s recent history.

Rafa Benitez won two titles in three years at the Mestalla and hardly played thrill-a-minute football, and he left a hero. Then again, Benitez did not have the money spent by Flores, which brings its own pressures, and narrows the margin of error.

Blue On The Horizon

Flores has this week defended his rotation policy, a tactic that has not found favour with the Che faithful: ``All top teams do it and we are lucky to have the squad to be able to do it here. It helps boost the performance of the team and on Sunday I will try to do it again in order to achieve the best overall result.''

While his approach makes sense, he hardly holds the safest managerial position in world football, given recent criticism and fan rancour. Flores cannot afford a disappointing defeat to inferior opposition because of his tactical selection, or he may face worse consequences than the customary end of game whistles.

The coach is bound to rest certain ‘first team’ players at Recre with the home fixture against Chelsea on Tuesday night in mind, but Flores knows he cannot afford defeat on Sunday, even if a win against the Blues follows.

Che president Soler has repeatedly stated Valencia have the strongest squad in Spanish football. Whether true or not, the statement could be viewed as a veiled warning to Flores that there will be little empathy and understanding if the fielding of a weakened team brings defeat, especially against lesser opposition.

Recre Revving-Up

It was a case of remarkable Recreativo last season as the minnows took La Liga by storm, never even straying close to the drop. Victor Munoz has continued that trend so far this term, and the Huelva outfit look in fine fettle already this season.

A brace of victories against Deportivo and Espanyol have made it a great start, with the two triumph coming after injury to the club’s prime goal threat, Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

It is a tough place to go and play, and Munoz’ men will be hoping the home form holds true in what often proves that oh so difficult second season for newly promoted teams.

Nevertheless, it represents a significant banana skin in Flores’s quests to win back belief in his abilities from certain sections of fans and media.

FORM GUIDE

Recreativo

Sept 26 vs Deportivo (a) Won 2-0 (La Liga)
Sept 22 vs Espanyol (h) Won 2-1 (La Liga)
Sept 16 vs Sevilla (a) Lost 4-1 (La Liga)
Sept 2 vs Getafe (a) Drew 1-1 (La Liga)
Aug 26 vs Betis (h) Drew 1-1 (La Liga)

Valencia

Sept 26 vs Getafe (h) 2-1 (La Liga)
Sept 23 vs Betis (a) Won 2-1 (La Liga)
Sept 18 vs Schalke (a) Won 1-0 (CL)
Sept 15 vs Valladolid (h) Won 2-1 (La Liga)
Sept 2 vs Almeria (a) Won 2-1 (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Recreativo

With Sinama-Pongolle out, Javi Guerrero will continue to be the major threat up front, though the newly signed Edwin Congo, a Real Madrid reject of years past, could figure after joining in the week.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI: Sorrentino, Caceres, Bautisita, Moya, Barreno, Jesus, Martins, Camunas, Guerrero, Varela

Valencia

Flores is likely to rotate significantly after Getafe, with Chelsea coming up. David Silva is highly unlikely to figure having not recovered from injury. Raul Albiol took a knock in training but should make it. Manuel Fernandes could well figure in the centre as could Sunny, while Juan Mata, back after some time on the treatment table, could come in wide on the left. Canizares is back in contention but may have to watch from the stands until a Hildebrand error lets him back in. Nikola Zigic will be desperately hoping for his first minutes in the Che white.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI: Hildebrand, Miguel, Marchena/Albiol, Helguera, Moretti/Alexis, Angulo, Albelda, Fernandes, Mata – Villa, Morientes/Arizmendi

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The talent of Javi Guerrero has been obvious to see with three goals already this season. I didn’t quite work for him at Celta, a move sealed by some good years at Racing, but this acquisition could star for Recre this season and is a danger in the final third, or when he drops deep.

Portuguese U21 star Manuel Fernandes was signed just before the transfer deadline and purchased to duel with Ruben Baraja for the playmaking role alongside David Albelda. He starred in a short stint at Everton (who were keen on signing him) and looks a great buy, providing a cutting edge in the centre that the 32 year old Baraja has for some time failed to provide, due to a combination of poor form and injury.

PREDICTION

Valencia will probably have to produce their best performance of the season so far to win this match, which may be compromised by the possible resting of the likes of Morientes, Villa, Joaquin etc. Recre faultered badly in their only test against Liga's top brass this season - a 4-1 loss to Sevilla - but will look forward to this encounter given their positive form. It is matches like these that show just how strong the Che squad is, but Valencia are most certainly on a role at the moment. It will be close though.

Recreativo 1 - 2 Valencia

John Rowlands

Goal.com - Spain - La Liga Preview: Recreativo Huelva - Valencia

I think it' a good thing Valencia playing away just now, given the abuse Flores has been getting.

[LAF]

A 5th minute goal from David Villa was sufficient for Valencia to pick up a hard-fought win in Huelva and go joint second in Spain.

A goal from David Villa even before Recreativo had settled into the game handed Valencia their fifth consecutive La Liga win of the season.

Carlos Marchena sent forward a speculative effort, and the alert striker broke clear of his markers to collect it and finish past Sorrentino.

Los Che dominated the rest of the first half, and could well have doubled their advantage but for Silva forcing a great save and then Angulo stiking the woodwork.

Things turned around after the break, with Recre having their say in the game.

However Flores' boys still controlled the game, by and large, playing it at their own pace, and managed to hold out despite Recre having a few chances of their own.

There was a controversial end, though, as Recre had a penalty claim denied when a ball brushed Emiliano Moretti's hand in the penalty area.

Carlos Martins was subsequently sent of for his part in the protests, leaving the croud howling at the referee for the remainder of the game.

All in all, it was a game in which Valencia did not want to exert themselves ahead of the big match against Chelsea, and managed to achieve their objective.

They are joint second with Villarreal, just a point behind Real Madrid.

Goal.com

Goal.com - La Liga - Villa Strike Wins It For Valencia

[Super Pibe #7]

Quique is one lucky guy. 6 wins in a row and valencia are now sitting in third, 1 point behind the leaders real madrid.

They are playing terribe though.Carboni should be laughing at soler now.