La Liga preview: Barcelona braced for Valencia test

Barcelona travel to third-placed Valencia on Wednesday in the highlight of a La Liga round spread across three days.

Barca, who top the league by seven points ahead of Real Madrid, are 17 points clear of Valencia and remarkably have lost just one game this season – at home to newly promoted Hercules back in September.

But it would not surprise if Barcelona’s second loss of the season did come against Valencia, who have not lost a league fixture since Real Madrid beat them 2-0 at the Bernabeu in early December.

Valencia have lost just once at home this season and are coming off a big 2-1 away win at Athletic Bilbao, who are also challenging for a European spot, which saw them four points clear of Villarreal in third position, one of the automatic qualification spots into the Champions League.

“With perseverance we beat a big rival at a very difficult venue, and for that we must be doubly pleased,” Valencia coach Unai Emery said.

When quizzed on the midweek fixture against Barca, Emery said his side need to approach the game ‘with enthusiasm and a need to defend third place’.

Pep Guardiola’s side enter the match after a 3-0 away win at Mallorca on Saturday and keen to extend their lead on Real, but they will need the likes of Lionel Messi (26 league goals this season) and former Valencia striker David Villa (17) to be at their best.

Xavi and Jeffren returned to training on Monday and could make returns from injury for Barca but goalkeeper Victor Valdes and defender Carles Puyol will miss the clash, while Valencia’s top scorer Aduriz, who has struck nine La Liga goals this season, will not play any part due to injury.

Relegation-threatened Malaga are rank outsiders when they travel to Real Madrid on Thursday but despite the club sitting second last, they can take heart from a four-match unbeaten run.

They will face a fired-up Real side determined to gain revenge for a 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, with a victory helping keep the pressure on Barcelona.

A victory for Espanyol on Tuesday against Mallorca would see them nudge to within four points of fourth-placed Villarreal while the other match on Tuesday sees Sevilla take on strugglers Sporting Gijon.

Real Zaragoza and Getafe host Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid respectively on Wednesday while Hercules travel to Villarreal and Osasuna host Deportivo La Coruna.

Real Sociedad clash with Levante also on Wednesday while Racing Santander travel to bottom-of-the-table Almeria on Thursday.

Tue 1 March, 2011

La Liga preview: Barcelona braced for Valencia test

Barcelona travel to third-placed Valencia on Wednesday in the highlight of a La Liga round spread across three days.

Barca, who top the league by seven points ahead of Real Madrid, are 17 points clear of Valencia and remarkably have lost just one game this season – at home to newly promoted Hercules back in September.

But it would not surprise if Barcelona’s second loss of the season did come against Valencia, who have not lost a league fixture since Real Madrid beat them 2-0 at the Bernabeu in early December.

Valencia have lost just once at home this season and are coming off a big 2-1 away win at Athletic Bilbao, who are also challenging for a European spot, which saw them four points clear of Villarreal in third position, one of the automatic qualification spots into the Champions League.

“With perseverance we beat a big rival at a very difficult venue, and for that we must be doubly pleased,” Valencia coach Unai Emery said.

When quizzed on the midweek fixture against Barca, Emery said his side need to approach the game ‘with enthusiasm and a need to defend third place’.

Pep Guardiola’s side enter the match after a 3-0 away win at Mallorca on Saturday and keen to extend their lead on Real, but they will need the likes of Lionel Messi (26 league goals this season) and former Valencia striker David Villa (17) to be at their best.

Xavi and Jeffren returned to training on Monday and could make returns from injury for Barca but goalkeeper Victor Valdes and defender Carles Puyol will miss the clash, while Valencia’s top scorer Aduriz, who has struck nine La Liga goals this season, will not play any part due to injury.

Relegation-threatened Malaga are rank outsiders when they travel to Real Madrid on Thursday but despite the club sitting second last, they can take heart from a four-match unbeaten run.

They will face a fired-up Real side determined to gain revenge for a 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, with a victory helping keep the pressure on Barcelona.

A victory for Espanyol on Tuesday against Mallorca would see them nudge to within four points of fourth-placed Villarreal while the other match on Tuesday sees Sevilla take on strugglers Sporting Gijon.

Real Zaragoza and Getafe host Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid respectively on Wednesday while Hercules travel to Villarreal and Osasuna host Deportivo La Coruna.

Real Sociedad clash with Levante also on Wednesday while Racing Santander travel to bottom-of-the-table Almeria on Thursday.

Tue 1 March, 2011

Positive-minded Valencia braced for Barca

Valencia winger Joaquin believes his team’s recent run of form leaves them full of confidence going into Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona.

Valencia have won three of their last four games in La Liga, including a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Joaquin knows league leaders Barcelona will be their toughest test yet but says his team go into the game in a positive frame of mind.

“The three points from Sunday gives us a big boost because winning at the Cathedral is always very difficult,” he said.

“Athletic are a very solid and tough side at home and taking the three points after having to fight so hard makes people very happy.”

“Irrespective of that, I am very excited about Wednesday’s game, even more so because of the confidence I have in how the team are doing. We are happy, above all, with the important three points,” he added.

Joaquin also spoke of former Valencia team-mate David Villa, who will return to the Mestalla for the first time following a close-season switch to the Catalan giants.

“It would be exciting for Villa to play in Mestalla, and we would love to see him beforehand,” Joaquin said.

“During the game there are three points at stake that we can’t afford to drop. It is going to be harder than ever, because they are a good team.”

“But we are going to try and impose our football on the game. We are capable of ensuring Barcelona feel comfortable because, if they do, then they will have a good chance.”

Tue 1 March, 2011

Di Matteo braced for hectic stretch

Roberto Di Matteo will have no time for Christmas cheer if West Brom let their good form slip in the coming weeks.

West Brom travel to Bolton on Sunday and Di Matteo knows that the busy Christmas schedule provides a stern test for his side.

“If you are not in a good position at Christmas then the whole period does not mean much to you,” Di Matteo said.

“And even if you have a good Christmas and are poor after then the period means nothing then either. The importance of this period is just based in how many games there are in a short period of time that stretches the squads.”

The Italian manger is also concerned about the threat Bolton’s in form strikers pose to his defenders.

“They are very effective and they have got Johan Elmander scoring goals and having a goal scorer like that, as we all know, can really affect your season. They have two goal scorers now in Elmander and Kevin Davies,” Di Matteo said.

The former Chelsea player also thinks his opposing manager, Owen Coyle, has made Bolton a more aesthetically pleasing team to watch.

Di Matteo is also not averse to the prospect of playing more games in the English summer time and he thinks fans would approve of attending matches in warmer temperatures.

“Every year at this time we talk about the same issues; frozen pitches, postponed games and the safety of the supporters who come to watch the game,” he said.

“Last season in the Championship our season ended on May 2 and this year we will finish on May 22 so I think there is plenty of room to extend the season into the summer when the weather is nice and people would love to watch a game and the pitches will be in perfect condition.”

Thu 23 December, 2010

Di Matteo braced for hectic stretch

Roberto Di Matteo will have no time for Christmas cheer if West Brom let their good form slip in the coming weeks.

West Brom travel to Bolton on Sunday and Di Matteo knows that the busy Christmas schedule provides a stern test for his side.

“If you are not in a good position at Christmas then the whole period does not mean much to you,” Di Matteo said.

“And even if you have a good Christmas and are poor after then the period means nothing then either. The importance of this period is just based in how many games there are in a short period of time that stretches the squads.”

The Italian manger is also concerned about the threat Bolton’s in form strikers pose to his defenders.

“They are very effective and they have got Johan Elmander scoring goals and having a goal scorer like that, as we all know, can really affect your season. They have two goal scorers now in Elmander and Kevin Davies,” Di Matteo said.

The former Chelsea player also thinks his opposing manager, Owen Coyle, has made Bolton a more aesthetically pleasing team to watch.

Di Matteo is also not averse to the prospect of playing more games in the English summer time and he thinks fans would approve of attending matches in warmer temperatures.

“Every year at this time we talk about the same issues; frozen pitches, postponed games and the safety of the supporters who come to watch the game,” he said.

“Last season in the Championship our season ended on May 2 and this year we will finish on May 22 so I think there is plenty of room to extend the season into the summer when the weather is nice and people would love to watch a game and the pitches will be in perfect condition.”

Thu 23 December, 2010