Preview: Valencia - Barça
Friday, 16 October 09, 10:40 AM · Comments (14)
Thierry Henry may not have been in the best moment of form before getting injured playing for France on Wednesday, but it is a great shame that he will miss tomorrow's game at Mestalla because since joining Barça he has scored seven goals in games against Valencia. Last season he scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 league win at Camp Nou, and then in Valencia he came off the bench to score a late equalizer in a hard fought 2-2 draw (Click here for this blog's report on that game).
Our other international players should all be ok to play but there is a good chance that Pep Guardiola will once again leave Leo Messi on the bench as he has done on other occasions after an international break. It is worrying that for such a tough game we may start without two of our first choice front three but I don't think Guardiola will change his philosophy for a difficult opponent. I imagine we will see Pedro, Ibrahimovic and Iniesta starting, though there could be a chance for fit-again Bojan Krkic, especially if Ibrahimovic is not fully fit.
Valencia also have injury problems with Marchena and Joaquin definitely out and a race against time for David Villa to get fit for the game. If Villa doesn't play then Zigic is the most likely substitute and the lone forward will be supported by the likes of Mata, Silva and Pablo Hernandez. While Valencia have no lack of talent going forward, they do have some problems in defence where they are trying to form a new back four with new signings Bruno, David Navarro, Dealbert and Mathieu. So far this season they have scored 12 and conceded 9 in six games and are currently in fifth position in La Liga on 11 points. History shows that this fixture has been hotly contested with 29 victories for both clubs and 16 draws in the 74 league encounters between the teams in Valencia.
This is our first really big test in the league this season. After six straight wins another victory tomorrow would make it our best ever start to the season, on the three previous occasions that we have won the first six games we drew the seventh match each time. Hopefully tomorrow we can go one better as this will also maintain our three point lead over Real Madrid who failed in their first "big test" last time out when they lost to Sevilla. whether Villa playsor not I don't think this will be at all easy and my prediction is that we will have to make do with a draw.
Possible starting XI: Valdés; Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Keita; Pedro, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta.
My prediction: Valencia 1 Barça 1
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14 Comments · Add yours
aaaaggghh, just saw my absolute worst referee is in charge of this one. senor perez "madrista" burrull. sport/el mundo have been having a field day with the refs lately with some pretty clever and funny cartoons all on the topic of refs helping madrid and trying their best to hurt barca. however, on a positive note, i also learnt today that in spain refs can only do so until 45 years old, and with him being at 44 this year, we will only have to endure him one more season.
I try not to talk much about referees on the blog because it generally comes across as sour grapes. However, it is true that Perez Burrull is one that I definitely do not like. Having seen the penalty decisions not given so far this season, this does not help me to maintain the hope that there is no anti-barça conspiracy. I will continue to do my best to believe that there are genuine human mistakes that sometimes go our way and sometimes they go against. The way things are going at the moment does little to support this.
Well, playing whithout our front three in Mestalla sure isn't good news... I can't see us taking anything out of this game whith an unfit Bojan, a "one goal but not much else" Pedro (always good to take still) and a yet out of form and always non scoring Iniesta. I think Pep knows that and will start Messi if Ibra is not fit. Mind you, as it was last year, a draw would be an excellent result, it would keep us on top of the league and the pressure would still be on Madrid...
again, another topic off the game, robinho. im seriously worried that if the transfer goes through we are going to lose yaya the other way. i just have a bad feeling always he is under-appreciated, and so many others want him. i would be so so so so so upset if we got robinho and would have to give up yaya and some cash on top im sure. on the transfer itself, i quite like it, but not if we have to give the YAYA away, never.
There's been a lot of noise about Robinho coming in January but I'd make a small wager that nothing will come of it. Man City don't need money and would only let him go if they got someone in return. There is no way Barça would let Toure go in the winter, absolutely no way, and the option of Henry would not work out either. We wouldn't agree to let him go and Henry himself would not want to go either. Robinho would like to come to Barça but so would hundreds of players, I believe it is just the typical media making a story out of very little as they have nothing else to write about this week.
lol, nice nic, im liking the increased input on the comments section too! i hope your right, im a bit paranoid about yaya. would shatter me to see him go. yeah, im not gonna guess if the deal will happen or not. surely henry wont go the other way. but if we could get him and we could afford it, i think it would be a pretty good transfer. he would provide some much needed cover and quality to that left side. he has said he wants to come already, and if i was hughes and i got a good offer id let him go. frankly, that league does not suit him, especially physically and if his mind and heart isnt there, why keep him around. anyhow, just some int break stories for now.
on topic, you guys seen the video valencia made??? that "valencianistas espartanos" (valencian spartans). they made a video (google the title if you want to see it) merging the movie 300 with clips from previous val/barca encounters. then they dub king leonidas with some dude shouting all this stuff to pump them up. it ends with "ESTO ES MESTALLA" and a text urging all supporters to "come and support in the killing of their opponents" with a blood trail and such. though they have gotten into trouble already with the Committee of Anti-Violence in Football, who claim the video is inspiring violent and possibly dangerous feelings against barca supporters and players.
in any case, im slightly shocked at how seriously they are taking this game. the cities are historic bitter rivals, not only football wise, just in general. i guess the last two years of 6-0 and 4-0 style thrashings has been too much. they also have people throughout the city dressed like spartans urging people to support tonight. should be a loud loud stadium tonight!!
yeah....im in agreement with nic's comment on refs....would also love robinho but things like that are never easy unless its football manager.....givin up yaya toure would spell the begining of another temporary end for us, i feel....
an exciting match is imminent, im always excited when we meet tough teams who always find it hard to believe another top team is better...i'll go for a victory, just in d mood
valencia 1-3 barca
Thank Goodness its match day. I have been a vacuous shell of a man the last two weeks. I neeeeeeeeed to see Barcaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
Agree about Toure. He is unquestionably the best defensive Mid in the world for me.
We do need someone down the left, and Robinho is talent. Just as long as he doesn't start do that sucking his thumb crap whilst wearing our colours.
Visca Barca
P.S
Fuck Real Madrid
" We do need someone down the left, and Robinho is talent. Just as long as he doesn't start do that sucking his thumb crap whilst wearing our colours."
Good point .
I hate players who suck their thumbs every time they score a goal . Too sissy for my liking !!
3-1 Barca as well. I don't think we'll see a great Valencia and it will be Barca's to lose if they do not show up. Sevilla are showing their colours again by being inconsistent and losing. All the better for us.
I'm also with everyone else we should not let Toure go under any circumstances.
Team just announced - Messi is starting but Ibrahimovic is on the bench. Three little guys up front!
Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Keita; Pedro, Messi, Iniesta
David Villa has been left out. Valencia play as follows: (4-2-3-1) Cesar; Miguel, Dealbert, Navarro, Bruno; Albelda, Banega; Pablo Hernandez, Silva, Mathieu; Mata.
The fact that they put a defender (Mathieu) on the left wing indicates they are worried about Dani Alves.
Why is Bojan still on the bench?
Pedro needs to come off now, he is contributing nothing to the team, we look like we a playing with a defence and a midfield and thats it, no attack.