Valencia - Getafe

Where: Mestalla Stadium, Valencia
When: 8pm (Spanish Time)

Background

Although the team from the southern working class suburbs of Madrid is only starting its third season in the Spanish elite – and was actually only founded in the current form back in 1983 – the ‘Azulones’ (Big Blues) have a link to the current Chés that brings the two sides stamping and clicking closer together.

After rising to the Spanish First Division for the first time a little over two years ago, Getafe were helmed by ex-Valencia CF and Real Madrid right-back Quique Sánchez Flores (cousin of famous Flamenco singers Rosario and Lolita Flores). After cutting his teeth with the Azulones’, Quique was offered the chance to helm Valencia and grabbed it.

He therefore has two different coaching experiences of Valencia; first as a visitor who ended up being sunk by the Chés on the 20th of March 2005: Goals by Rufete, Di Vaio and Mista – all now in other clubs, funnily enough – outweighing the consolation strike by the now retired Gica Craioveanu.

Last year’s Mestalla clash took place in February 2006 and saw a late draw as Valencia went ahead through Navarro, but Nano (ex-FC Barcelona / Deportivo La Coruña) grabbed a late equaliser to square things off and leave Quique without a win at the Luis Casanova ground as far as Valencia-Getafe games are concerned. Could Sunday see him pull it off?

Team News

Valencia CF

Uruguayan wingman Mario Regueiro seems set to assume the left-back slot against Getafe after Quique’s usual favourite Emiliano Moretti saw red at the Vicente Calderón in the Chés win over Atlético Madrid.

Although Regueiro is really more of an offensive winger than a wing-back, the Valencia boss has had to improvise given the fact that Moretti’s natural stand-in / competitor Asier del Horno (ex-Chelsea / Athletic Bilbao) is still out with a torn hamstring

The only other ‘real’ left-back is young promise Cerra, but 28 year-old Regueiro is considered by many to be Quique Sánchez Flores’ ‘twelfth man’ as he’s usually the first that the tactician turns to when adjusting his first eleven.

Injured Captain David Albelda is till out of action, but the good news for Valencia fans is that the midfielder will probably make it back to match fitness in time for the classic clash against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou next round.

Last year’s scorer against Getafe – David Navarro – wasn’t in action at the Paterna training facilities on Thursday as he was exercising different trots after picking up a stomach bug but was back in action on Friday and may be available to be fielded if he recovers fully.

Francesco Tavano is out for the next five days after pulling his right hamstring in training before the Olympiakos win on Wednesday.

The biggest news is that Quique Sánchez Flores was spotted fielding ex-Betis man Joaquín Sánchez in what many see as his first eleven against Getafe, the speed merchant giving the snappier movement out of midfield that Quique wants to encourage.

Valencia Stats

Liga Position: 4
Previous Position: 2

Liga Form: W W

Top Scorers

1 Goal

D. Villa
R. Albiol
F. Morientes

Biggest Home Win 2-1 26/08/06 (Real Betis) Rd.1

Biggest Away Win 0-1 09/09/06 (Atlético Madrid) Rd.2

Getafe CF

Bernd Schuster has been subjecting his men to a gruelling preparation for the Mestalla match as the Madrileños know that a third win a row would send them hurtling towards the top of the table with a shot in the arm that could make a big difference this season.

Schuster will probably have to do without the injured threesome of Lucas Litch, Ángel Albín and Vivar Dorado. The only player with some chance of making the Valencia fixture is veteran Vivar Dorado, although any announcement is expected on Sunday morning.

Getafe Stats

Liga Position: 3
Previous Position: 4

Liga Form: W W

Top Scorers

1 Goal

D. Güiza
Nacho
F. Celestini

Biggest Home Win 1-0 10/09/06 (Racing Santander) Rd.2

Biggest Away Win 0-2 27/08/06 (Osasuna) Rd.1

Players To Watch

Valencia CF

Although David Villa is always worth keeping an eye on, Cañizares is celebrating 11 years with the Chés after leaving Real Madrid due to Capello’s preference for Ilgner, and ex-Betis wingman Joaquín Sánchez may well make his debut at Mestalla, it’s a golden oldie that’s attracting glances…

Fernando Morientes: Although he’s only hit home once in La Liga so far – against Betis in the opening clash – ‘El Moro’ (ex-Liverpool, AS Monaco, Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza) showed his previously customary efficiency in front of goal against Olympiakos with a CL hat-trick.

This could mean that the 30 year-old is back to his old ways and could be the perfect aerial foil for David Villa’s ground-based rapier. Will he be able to put paid to the ‘curse of the Ché number 9’ that’s hung over Mestalla for the best part of a decade?

Getafe CF

Güiza, Nacho and Celestini have all notched up a goal apiece so far. Slim baggage but enough to hoist the Azulones to a third place above Valencia. Veteran Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic (ex-Mallorca, Atlético Madrid) has shown himself to be a little rusty of late and missed a couple of clear chances in front of Racing, so will be trying to prove himself – if Schuster gives him the nod. Nevertheless, given Valencia’s firepower the man to watch is a duck…

Roberto ‘Pato’ Abbondanzieri: The 34 year-old was one of the bulwarks behind Boca Juniors’ recent hegemony in South America and also the number 1 choice in Germany to seal Pekerman’s Albiceleste goal; oddly enough making his national debut at 31 just a few years before.

After starting off at Rosario Central he spent a decade at the Xeneize club before they cashed him in for what they could get from Getafe. Many were surprised at the choice of club, but with his career twilight gleaming on the horizon the big boys weren’t interested. Their loss was Getafe’s gain and may well be proved on Sunday.

Possible Starting Elevens (Not Confirmed)

VALENCIA CF (4-4-2): Cañizares, Miguel, Ayala, Albiol, Regueiro; Angulo, Edu, Marchena, Joaquín Sánchez; Villa and Morientes.
Coach: Quique Sánchez Flores

GETAFE CF (4-2-3-1): Pato Abbondanzieri; Contra, Belenguer, Alexis, Paredes; Celestini, Casquero; Cotelo, Paunovic (Sousa), Nacho; Güiza
Coach: Bernd Schuster

we can not watch the game here on TV tonight, and I can not find any place to watch on internet. I'm so disappointed that can not see Joaquin's debut in Mestalla. But I believe we can win. Though we did not keep good history against them during last season, now we will turn to be what it should be.

Yeah! We won 2-0. Good match for Valencia, the most difficult was to score the first goal and afortunately Morientes got it again!! I was very angry with referee, he didn't let Valencia plays in first half. And Vicente scored 2-0 in a penalty. They could get more goals but 2-0 is good to have nine points and be ready to play against Barcelona next Sunday.

Morientes And Vicente Get Getafe

Roberto ‘Pato’ Abbondanzieri saw his clean sheet in the Liga so far – the only one still standing – sent quacking as Valencia made it three out of three at a delighted Mestalla. Morientes confirmed his hot streak with his fourth goal in five days and Vicente walloped in a penalty.

Mario Regueiro started off at left-back, as predicted, whereas in the Getafe ranks Schuster went for a change with an attacking threesome of Celestini, Casquero and Sousa with Paunovic alone up front & Güiza benched. It didn’t work.

Valencia started seriously after a fifteen minute warm-up; Edu and Morientes having good chances to put the Chés ahead but failing to ripple the Pato’s nets. Soon after things were complicated for Quique as Marchena limped off and Albiol was brought on.

Hearts fluttered in the Mestalla stands as Alexis came close to netting a Contra cross that caught the Valencian defense with their shorts down. Fortunately for the hosts the Getafe man inexplicably shot the ball wide of a screaming Cañizares.

Things heated up as the Madrileños went in hard and ten minutes from the break Joaquín made his first jab as a Ché but to no avail. Just as it seemed the first half would end in stalemate thanks to a colossal Azulones rearguard, ‘El Moro’ made the difference again.

Vicente did the dirty work by dribbling El Pato as he charged out to narrow the angle and chipped the ball for Morientes (45 min) to nod in the first of the night and set the stands alight with overjoyed local fans as the Argentinean keeper tried to convince the ref that the time was up.

The second half started with Villa almost scoring an ‘Olympic Goal’(goal scored from a corner) and leaving Abbondanzieri’s far post vibrating to oohs and ahs from the home fans. Nevertheless it was the visitors who took the initiative and Paunovic tested Cañizares twice.

David Navarro saved the day for Valencia by blocking a Nacho shot at point-blank range that would have beaten Cañizares. Once again as it seemed that a local goal would be a long time in coming, Contra brought down Vicente in the Getafe box, although ref Pino Zamorano mistakenly carded Mario Cotelo; Contra escaping an early bath as he already had a yellow.

Vicente (66 min) sent the Pato the wrong way to seal the third win in a row beyond doubt with a perfect penalty kick. A rather absent Joaquín was substituted by Ángulo in the 75th minute, but this team is all about the collective and Quique’s men celebrated nine points out of nine in play.

VALENCIA CF (2): Cañizares, Miguel, Ayala, David Navarro, Regueiro, Joaquín (Angulo, 75 min), Marchena (Albiol, 19 min), Edu, Vicente, Villa (Silva, 63 min) and Morientes.

GETAFE CF (0): Abbondanzieri, Contra, Belenguer, Alexis, Paredes, Celestini, Mario Cotelo (Redondo, 71 min), Casquero, Sousa (Pachón, 71 min), Nacho (Manu, 78 min) and Paunovic.

Referee: Pino Zamorano

Yellow Cards: Villa, Regueiro, Vicente, Paunovic, Mario Cotelo, Celestini and Contra

Spectators: 44,967

Great, Vicente became the best again. As I was told, this is his first goal since Dec. 2005. I want to know, Did Joaquin make a good work?

What happened with Marchena?

Joaquín:
No, he didn't played at high level. But it's understable, as he's beginning to knew his new mates.

Marchena:
He has a strong hit in his left knee. It seems not to be serious, but today the doctors are going to explore his knee.

Valencia is one of three teams in the Spanish Liga to have won all of their three matches played so far in this season. Sevilla, Barcelona and Valencia have all earned nine points from the first three games.

I'm wondering if anyone could find a torrent with the whole game.

Because this game I really really want to watch

Well, Marchena's injury is serious. Torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. No surgery is necessary, and we'll get him back in about 4 months.

Thats bad since he has been playing really good lately.
Why don't Barcelona have these injuries in key players (Albelda vs Puyol, Baraja vs Deco Vicente vs Ronaldinho etc.)
Lucky bastards.


But as I said, can someone find the whole game for us to download? That would be really nice

Poor Marchena! He was playing good and Quique was trusting in him. We're getting bad luck with midfielders injuries, Baraja, Albelda and Marchena now. I hope Marchena can be ok soon, though his injury is serious. Maybe Albelda can be to play against Barcelona, he'll be the great doubt for the great match.

Sorry emilin, I don't usually use torrent progams but I haven't seen yesterday's match to download on http://www.mininova.org I think the game is not to download

Hmm, thats bad becuase I want to watch Vicente and Joaquin (even though he wasn't that good) etc.

Well then thats bad, but if you find it plz post it here, ok?

Clear