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Preview: Valencia - Osasuna
Valencia (2nd) v Osasuna (13th)
When: 17:00 CET, Sunday October 22, 2006
Where: Mestalla, Valencia
The public lambasting that followed Los Che’s timid defeat at the hands of Celta by manager Quique Flores had the desired effect midweek. The coach will hope his players don't have short memories come kick-off.
Galvanised After Galicia
Attacked for their mental approach, lackadaisical application and swelling heads after Celta pumped three goals into Valencia - sending them packing and further adrift of Barcelona - the players got the job done in the Champions League on Wednesday. Flores knows his men should have been more focused at the Balaidos, given the fact it could have been an opportunity to take top spot, with Barca facing Sevilla. In the end, the Blaugrana rubbed that Vigo defeat in Che faces with a comfortable 3-1 jaunt. If this fact wasn’t glaringly obvious to the Valencia players last weekend, they can hardly avoid the issue this time with El Clasico dominating proceedings, and at the Bernabeu too. If there's a Merengues victory, a win puts Valencia top (goal differnece permitting).
Wounded Che
Despite bouncing back from the Galician mire, the depression is not alleviated in the availability department. We heard last week that Vicente would miss around 3 weeks with injury. Now, having only recently stated he was nearing full fitness, Asier Del Horno goes under the knife and faces months on the sidelines – a real kick in the teeth for player and club - leaving Emilano Moretti the only senior player capable of calling left back his preferred position. And….it doesn’t end there. Unlikely goal source David Navarro, Jaime Gavilan and Edu are all marked off the roster for the visit of Osasuna, joining a list that includes Carlos Marchena and Ruben Baraja.
Reeling Rojillos
It was a blow (though, given strong opposition, one you almost expected) for Osasuna to bow out at the Champions League qualification stage after doing marvellously well to make the top four last season. Hamburg was a tough appointment, and the Pamplona outfit went so close with a goalless draw in Germany, only to be dispatched with a scoring one at home and away goals agony. It must have been deflating, and the opening day home defeat to little Getafe left them well and truly flat. Not the time when you want to visit Nou Camp – a 3-0 loss duly followed. Los Rojillos have began to pull them selves out of that ugly hole with a couple of victories, though last weekends home defeat to Racing is a worry. They can’t afford another dramatic descent, or it might be hard to recover.
FORM GUIDE
Valencia
Oct 18 v Shakhtar Donetsk (H) Won 2-0 (CL)
Oct 15 v Celta (A) Lost 3-2 (Liga)
Oct 1 v Nastic (H) Won 4-0 (Liga)
Sept 27 v Roma (H) Won 2-1(CL)
Sept 24 v Barcelona (A) 1-1 (Liga)
Osasuna
Oct 19 v Heerenveen (H) 0-0 (Uefa)
Oct 15 v Racing (H) Lost 1-0 (Liga)
Oct 1 v Espanyol (A) 0-0 (Liga)
Sept 28 v Trabzonspor (H) 0-0 (Uefa)
Sept 24 v Celta (A) Lost 2-0 (Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
With the relentless absenteeism, choices are fairly limited, to the extent that allegedly disgruntled new signing Francesco Tavano makes the squad, as does youngster David Cerrajeria. With so many potential central midfielders and defenders out, Flores should keep Albiol in the backline, so the versatile Angulo could tep in, though Jorge Lopez, Hugo Viana are also an option
Possible Starting XI: (4-4-2) Canizares, Miguel, Albiol, Ayala, Moretti, Joaquin, Albelda, Angulo, Silva, Villa, Morientes
Osasuna
Jose Ziganda is not without injury headaches of his own, with Corrales, Milosevic, Romeo, Juanlu and Juanfran among the missing. The good news is that livewire Cameroonian forward Pierre Webo makes the squad after some fitness doubts in the week.
Possible Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) Elia, Flano, Cruchaga, Jostexo, Izquierdo, Font, Raul Garcia, Punal, Delporte, Valdo, Soldado/Webo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Villa
Netted twice in midweek and looks to be on his way to another mammoth goal tally for the Mestalla outfit. Links well with whomever he plays, whether it be in support of Morientes or flanked by an offensive midfielder.
Valdo
The talented attacking midfielder is needed desperately in a time when the northerners are rarely finding the net. He was linked to some big moves in the summer but nothing materialised. If their form keeps dipping Osasuna may look to cash in and bring in reinforcements, but Valdo is one player Albiol and Co will have to keep an eye on.
PREDICTION
In their current guise, Osasuna seem unlikely to resist a full onslaught by a Che outfit bent on erasing last weekend’s defeat to get back on track, with one eye on Madrid.
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Valencia - Osasuna 
oh, no!!!!!!!
