what's the situation about our midfield?
who else will miss the match except Angulo, Baraja, Gavilan & Regueiro?

Will Silva & Vicente be fit to play?

Silva missed the last match due to yellow card accumulation, so there was no question of a fitness problem. Taking his place as suspended VCF player will be Ayala. As for Vicente, he was sat out as a precautionary measure, though I'm unsure if he will be fit to play.

Midifield wise, I'd expect Silva to play if Vicente unfit, with Albelda and Marchena in the centre. Only question is if Joaquin plays on the right or if Angulo will. I'm pessimistically expecting Angulo to patrol the right side.

Valencia v Racing Santander: Preview
PA

VALENCIA, March 16 (Primera Liga) - Title-chasing Valencia will be keen to return the spotlight to matters on the pitch when they face Racing Santander at the Mestalla on Saturday.

On Wednesday, UEFA suspended Valencia defender David Navarro for seven months for his role in the on-pitch brawl that marred the Spanish club's Champions League game against Internazionale on March 6.

Navarro's defensive partner Carlos Marchena received a four-match ban for his involvement in the same incident.

In addition, UEFA also fined the Primera Liga club 250,000 Swiss francs (#106,000) for failing to control their players.

The suspensions imposed on Navarro and Marchena only cover European fixtures, but UEFA will now ask FIFA to extend the former's ban to include domestic and international matches.

Los Che coach Quique Sanchez Flores is painfully aware that these off-field tribulations could not have come at a worse time, with his side in the mix for the Primera Liga title, just three points behind joint leaders Barcelona and Sevilla.

The 42-year-old believes that victory against Racing would be the perfect tonic for the club, and, eager to quickly heal the wounds of their European disgrace, has not ruled out including Navarro and Marchena in his squad for this weekend's encounter.

Sanchez Flores said: ``I am convinced that it is not going to affect them [Navarro and Marchena] because they know that we are in a very important time of the season and are conscious that we needed them to be 100% ready.

``What is more, I believe that it can serve as an incentive to demonstrate to them their importance to the group.''

Valencia, unbeaten in four but held to a draw in last Sunday's outing against Osasuna, are sweating on the fitness of Fernando Morientes, who sat out training earlier this week after picking up a knock last weekend.

Vicente could return after injury, but Ruben Baraja, Jaime Gavilan, Edu and Mario Regueiro all remain in the treatment room.

Santiago Canizares and Roberto Ayala will both feature after emerging unscathed from Tuesday's charity match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and a European XI.

Racing, meanwhile, are also unbeaten in four games and have one eye on a UEFA Cup berth, just six points behind fifth-placed Real Zaragoza.

A draw against Espanyol last time out means that Miguel Angel Portugal's 10th-placed troops have suffered just one defeat in their last nine league outings, and defender Ruben Gonzalez is confident his side will be more than a match for Valencia.

He said: ``To play in the Mestalla against Valencia is very motivating because, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona's stadiums, they are the great stages of our league.''

Gonzalez also warned that his team-mates will have to be on their toes to cope with Valencia's potent attacking duo David Villa and Morientes.

``We need to contain Villa and his ability in the area,'' he said.

``In addition, Morientes is a great forward, and will be necessary to cover them as we did in the first meeting.''

Racing won the reverse fixture against Los Ches 1-0 back in October, and forward Pedro Munitis is hoping for a similar result as his team bids to cement its top-flight status.

He said: ``It's a good opportunity to approach the 42-point mark that we set ourselves as our goal at the beginning of the season.

``It will not be easy, but I hope that our play, like in the first meeting, can do damage to them.''

Preview: Valencia – Racing Santander

Valencia (3rd) v Racing Santander (10th)
When: 18:00 CET, Saturday March 17, 2007
Where: Mestalla, Valencia

With the penalties dealt out to Valencia, all pending some form of appeal though the punishments are more likely to get heftier, its time to blow away the cobwebs of controversy as Los Che look to stay in the Liga title hunt.

Bad Boys In

What is effectively at least a ‘rest of the season’ European ban for Carlos Marchena and David Navarro (the former would be eligible for the final if Valencia get there, the latter will probably get banned from all competitive action for seven months) should ensure Quique Flores includes them this weekend.

The coach has already said he has no worries over their mental state going into this fixture and, in Marchena’s case especially, the versatile former Sevilla player will likely be a fixture in the team for domestic matches over the coming month.

Still, the squad has been dealt a considerable blow because with both Ruben Baraja and Edu unavailable for the remainder of the season, Hugo Viana seemingly yet to convince Flores, and David Albelda suffering his own occasional fitness problems, usual first choice centre back Raul Albiol has been playing most of the season in midfield. When the Champions League Quarter finals arrive, Valencia’s defensive strength is going to show cracks.

Setting A Platform

In fairness, given the newly dealt player availability problems facing Flores, the former Getafe boss is probably one approaching each game as it comes just now, but even he cannot hide from the fact that the next two matches are a great and potentially crucial opportunity to build a solid points platform before the tough tests that await.

Valencia's next match after this is at home again, against Espanyol, followed by a trip to struggling Bilbao. A hat-trick of wins would, given the stuttering form of Barca. Real and Sevilla, place Los Che in a very strong position - potentially within a win of top spot - prior to the visit of Sevilla. Straight after taking on Juande Ramos’ side, Valencia go to the Santiago Berabeu. These tow fixtures are liable to make or break the 2004 champions' title onslaught.

Valencia must start banking the more winnable points (on paper) soon. At this stage of the campaign they are opportunities that cannot be passed up, but 100% effort and concentration is almost always required in this league, no matter what the opposition.

Positively Racing

Miguel Portugal’s side have an unlikely eye on UEFA Cup qualification after a four match unbeaten run that has left them a still sizeable six points behind Real Zaragoza in fifth.

The team has enjoyed a positive season and never really looked to be threatened by relegation this. It is a great achievement by the coach and players given the huge losses in personnel at Racing in recent years.

Either way, you get the feeling that if the solid if unspectacular form carries on, Racing may become one of a clutch of teams that always emerge at this stage of the season, treading water in mid-table with nothing to play for. Such a situation means results begin to falter as European chasing and relegation battling colleagues want it that much more.

However, with star players like Ezequiel Garay and Nikola Zigic fully aware of their gleaming shop window status and the prospect of a major move in the summer, motivation will hopefully continue through to the end.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

Flores is waiting on Fernando Morientes, with Miguel Angulo likely to play just off David Villa in attack if the former Liverpool target man doesn’t make it. Vicente could figure, maybe even from the beginning, but Silva is available again and will surely start, on either the left or right side depending on injuries elsewhere.

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

Racing

Portugal should stick with the same side that drew against Espanyol last weekend, though he could adopt a more conservative tactical approach at the Mestalla. It would mean Zigic playing even more of a lone front role as the towering reference point, with either Oscar Serrano or Pedro Munitis making way for a more solid midfield lynchpin.

Possible Starting XI: Tono, Cristian, Garay, Pinillos, Gonzalez, Scaloni, Colsa, Vitolo, Munitis, Serrano, Zigic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

David Silva

Los Che badly missed his creative skill and darting runs against Osasuna, as the team struggled to unsettle the hosts in midfield. Silva has had a superb season and his return is a massive boost given midfield absentees elsewhere.

Nikola Zigic

Though Garay has had an excellent season at the back (plus netting his fair share of spot kicks) to the extent Manchester United are reportedly interested, the big Serb up front has received even more attention to the extent a summer move is overwhelmingly likely, with Racing admitting they are ready to cash-in. His giant frame and deceptive skill can trouble any defence.

PREDICTION

Racing are never pushovers, and this season there is more of a reason to be wary than usual given the quality in the side. Valencia need the win, but the visitors are well-placed and easily capable of rupturing the Che groove.

The Soccernet preview has a mistake; Ayala cannot play against Santander because of Yellow Card accumulation. I don't know who will play in his place, but I do think that Joaquin should get a start...but not as Centre back of course. Yesterday I managed to watch the Osasuna - Valencia match and even though it was painful to watch at times, Joaquin played quite well. He's really beginning to play well of late.

Oh and I predict a win, say 2-1 with Villa and Joaquin scoring the goals.

](*,)

That is all.

Racing Hammer Valencia's Title Chances

Valencia 0 - 2 Racing Santander

Valencia's title intentions took a hammer blow as they were beaten at home by Racing Santander on Saturday evening to cap what has alreayd been a bad week for the club.

Goals from Pedro Munitis and Oriol either side of the interval were enough for Miguel Ángel Portugal's side to pull off a resounding win.

Inconsistency among the top four teams has been a feature of the Spanish season, but few expected los Ché to capitulate against the Cantabrian visitors.

It was a game that coach Quique Sánchez Flores was desperate to win to banish the fracas at the end of the Champions League game against Inter.

That incident hung over the club into the build-up to this encounter, as several Valencia players were punished for their role and a victory against Racing would have lifted spirits.

Instead, the team that must face Chelsea next in Europe were hit by a smash and grab as they picked up nothing from a game that saw themc create numerous chances.

Flores' defence is usually the strong point of his side, but in this outing the Valencia rearguard had real problems coping with the little and large combination of Munitis and Nikola Zigic.

The giant Serb striker was menace when Racing attacked as he used his height and strength to great affect, and none more so than when opening the scoring after 20 minutes.

With Munitis arriving at the far post, Zigic picked out his partner and the former Real Madrid and Deportivo goalscorer slotted past Santiago Cañizares.

Minutes later, the away team could have grabbed a second when Zigic again played the providing role and set up Gonzalo Colsa, but this time the Valencia custodian saved.

The hosts hit back and attacked in waves, with Miguel Ángel Angulo and David Villa having the best chances before the break to equalise.

Racing were not content to sit back on their lead and hold out and they struck a second just after the hour mark when Oriol came up from the back to connect with a Munitis' corner and head home from close range.

It was a goal that stunned the home side and made their efforts to reduce the arrears even more desperate.

David Villa, Asier Del Horno and Fernando Morientes all had chances, while Joaquín embarked on an ambitious run in the closing stages, but that too ended without success.

Valencia 0 Racing 2

VALENCIA CF (0): Cañizares, Miguel, Albiol, David Navarro (Hugo Viana 46), Del Horno, Angulo (Joaquín 46), Marchena, Albelda, Silva, Morientes and Villa.

RACING DE SANTANDER (2): Toño, Pinillos, Rubén, Garay, Oriol, Scaloni (Balboa 73), Colsa, Vitolo, Óscar Serrano (Juanjo 88), Munitis and Zigic (Antonio Tomás 84)

Goals: 0-1 Munitis (19 min), 0-2 Oriol (62 min)

Referee: Rodríguez Santiago (Castilla-Leon)

Yellow cards: Scaloni, David Navarro, Del Horno and Hugo Viana

Venue: Mestalla

Spectators: 40,000

Uncomfortable Quique Regrets Lack Of Valencian Vim

Valencia Coach Quique Sánchez Flores was resigned and a little annoyed in the wake of today’s 0-2 surprise upset at Mestalla stadium that sees Valencia’s title hopes take a tumble.

"We just couldn’t get comfortable on the field”, began the tactician who nevertheless made a point of praising his opponent. “They played their game well and backed it up with goals.”

Quique did, however, believe that the Chés should have got a better result – but were lacking that elusive ‘formula x’ to inject more dynamism into their play.

"We should have put more emotion, more vim into the game. We knew that they weren’t going to hog possession, but we lacked that spark with the ball at our feet and the result reflects that”, he concluded.

Valencia are still in third place with 47 points, but Real Madrid (45 points) have the chance to overtake the Chés if the Merengues can pop Nàstic’s post-Sevilla balloon tomorrow.