Preview: Valencia - Celta

Valencia (3rd) v Celta (16th)
When: 20:00 CET, Saturday March 3rd, 2007
Where: Mestalla, Valencia
La Liga Preview: Valencia - Celta

Nonchalant At Nastic

For all the players missing in Tarragona last weekend (and it should be pointed out that some were not actually injured, but omitted nevertheless) the draw against the Catalan minnows was a big two points dropped.

When playing away to the league's worst team having recently overcome what, on paper, is its best in FC Barcelona, Che fans would be understandably miffed and left asking questions of Quique Flores and the players after what was a pretty uninspiring performance.

Had Valencia been 100% clinical in front of goal on the night then the last minute Ruben Castro header for the hosts would have been immaterial, but that is not say Valencia created many chances, far from it.

Worst of all, they were second to the ball for most of the night and didn’t seem to want it as much as a side that is essentially doomed to relegation. Flores will point to a makeshift midfield, and it was certainly that, but in hindsight the likes of Miguel and Fernando Morientes should have started rather than figuring late on.

Valencia have six points to make up on the leaders now, and with a host of players nearing availability again – some of which should return in this match – victory over Celta is surely a must, if only to garner momentum for the Liga title run-in.

Del Horno Debut?

Could it be true? Rumour has it we will finally see the former Chelsea and Bilbao left back make his first appearance in the white of Valencia

After suffering ligament damage in pre-season, Del Horno has been forced to sit out the entire term, watching agonisingly from the sidelines as his team endured a highly uneven first half of the season, with Flores regularly forced to field players in the Spanish international’s position who were unfamiliar with the role.

Now fit, he will finally challenge squad rival Emiliano Moretti for the left-back slot, though it will be no easy duel as the Italian (the only one not be booted out of the Mestalla, apart from Carboni upstairs) has been solid when deployed.

Creaking Celta

It has been a fairly ugly season for the Galicians as far as form is concerned. Though matching last term's exploits was always going to be the maximum that could be expected, while most anticipated a slight dip, Celta have tumbled down the table this year.

The club endured an awful January, losing every single match, though they have managed to go the last five competitive games unbeaten, which included the successful negotiation of Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Cup.

Fernando Vazquez is on seriously borrowed time, and it is not as if the former Valladolid man doesn’t know it. The club are said to have approached a host of managers to take over from him, with Micheal Laudrup being the latest to turn down the post, sighting refusal to take the job mid-season. So, this summer, it will likely be ‘adios’ to the man Alex Ferguson wanted as his number two before first recruiting Carlos Queiroz.

The only potential cat among the pigeons at the Mestalla is Celta’s bizarrely solid away form, which is pretty incomparable to the regularly torrid displays at home. Evidently, the team is designed for counter attack and, at least on the road, have looked confident and resilient.

Valencia will have to take the initiative in this one, because it is blindingly obvious how Vazquez’ men will be set up – a case of ‘attack us if you dare’.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

Raul Albiol and David Albelda should return to the eleven while Del Horno should see some action, perhaps even from the off-set. Ruben Baraja could scrape into the squad too, and expect Santi Canizares to replace deputy Ludo Butelle in goal. Morientes and Miguel will be restored to the team after sitting on the bench at Nastic, while last week’s goalscorer Joaquin will hope to keep his place ahead of Miguel Angulo

Possible Starting XI: Canizares, Miguel, Marchena, Ayala, Moretti/Del Horno, Joaquin/Angulo, Albiol, Albelda, Silva, Villa, Morientes

Celta Vigo

Borja Oubina is seriously doubtful, while Matias Lequi, Gabriel Tamas and Santos Iriney are also under the microscope leading up to the match. Nestor Canobbio and Diego Placente should be back though, which could mean bench relegation for Marseille-owned Bamogo who has done well since arriving on loan.

Possible Starting XI: Pinto, Angel, Contreras, Tamas, Placente/Areias, Nene, Jonathan/Oubina, Iriney, Lopez, Canobbio/Bamogo, Baiano

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Asier Del Horno

Though highly talented, he won’t be a match winner (though very useful at free-kicks, and may take over duties once fully fit). Villa and Silva will surely provide the attacking verve here, but it will as timely as it is pleasant to see Del Horno finally debut after his problems, and in front of the home fans to boot.

Fernando Baiano

The visitors are undoubtedly over reliant on the big Brazilian, though you can understand why the vast majority of teams in La Liga would make him the focal point of the attack.

PREDICTION

There is no excuse for repeat of the tepid display against Nastic, and with some players set to return Los Che should have a little to much for a Celta outfit that is nevertheless highly adept on the road and capable of spoiling the party.

goal.com

Was this as painful to watch as it was to follow? Only 1-0. Sure it's a win, but Celta had 15 shots to Valencia's 5. The 6 Valencia yellow cards don't really help matters either.

Well, bring on Inter I guess.

Essentially, no Silva nor Joaquin in the line-up. Nice to see Vicente back in the starting 11. Still don't understand Quique's fixation with Angulo. I'd have preferred either Silva or Joaquin to Angulo.