La Liga Preview: Valencia - Real Betis
Valencia began the season with a bang, winning nine of their first 11 competitive games once the league kicked off on August 30. So impressive was their start that it immediately buried the ghost of last term as new coach, Unai Emery, quickly established himself as the most successful Los Ché trainer on debut while the club recorded their best start to a season in their history.
But last season’s Copa del Rey champions have fallen off the pace slightly since November rolled around. They suffered their first defeat of the campaign – at the Mestalla no less – on the first of the month when they were stunned 2-4 by Racing Santander.
Their next immediate game in their own backyard ended in a disappointing 1-1draw against Danish side FC København in the UEFA Cup, before they crashed to their second successive home defeat in the league when they were humbled by newly-promoted Sporting Gijón 2-3.
All in all, they have won just three times in their last seven games on all fronts and just one out of their last four at home, and even then, it was against third division side, Portugalete in the Copa. And as far as La Liga is concerned, a similar track record of one win in four matches has seen them tumble from the top of the table down to fourth place, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
But a thumping 0-4 win at Rosenborg in the UEFA Cup last Thursday may just be the result they have been looking for to resuscitate their campaign. And it could not have come at a better time as Emery’s charges now enter that particular phase of the season where they have to take on Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Villarreal all in close proximity. Their first test, however, will be the visit of a Real Betis side in red-hot form.
Getting better from the bottom.
In sharp contrast to Los Ché, Betis commenced their league program in horrendous fashion. They failed to win in their opening six league games, losing four and drawing the other two to leave them rooted firmly to the bottom-end of the ladder.
But a stern ultimatum set out by the club directors seemed to have worked wonders as coach Paco Chaparro, on the brink of losing his job, led his troops to seven victories in their last eight competitive outings. They have rocketed themselves from the relegation zone straight up to the UEFA Cup-qualifying places in a matter of weeks. Currently lying in eighth spot, they are just a mere point behind sixth-placed Atlético Madrid.
They will enter Sunday’s clash at the Mestalla at the back of four straight triumphs, two of which were against opponents that Valencia so miserably lost to. But by the same token, this will also be their toughest match since the 2-1 defeat to Villarreal back in early October, which was the tail-end of that abysmal early season streak.
Los Verdiblancos’ hugely expensive but wildly talented team which they assembled during the summer transfer market finally appear to be hitting their stride. On paper, they have a squad to rival any of the current top five and if they can continue to improve or at the very least maintain their performance levels for the second half of the term, they should easily be able to secure a spot in Europe next season.
FORM GUIDE
Valencia
Nov 27 Rosenborg BK 0-4 Valencia (UEFA CUP)
Nov 22 Sevilla 0-0 Valencia (LA LIGA)
Nov 15 Valencia 2-3 Sporting Gijón (LA LIGA)
Nov 12 Valencia 3-0 Portugalete (COPA DEL REY)
Nov 09 Getafe 0-3 Valencia (LA LIGA)
Real Betis
Nov 23 Sporting Gijón 1-2 Real Betis (LA LIGA)
Nov 16 Real Betis 3-1 Racing Santander (LA LIGA)
Nov 12 Real Betis 2-0 CD Castellón (COPA DEL REY)
Nov 09 Numancia 2-4 Real Betis (LA LIGA)
Nov 02 Real Betis 0-3 Deportivo La Coruña (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Emiliano Moretti, David Silva, Miguel Ángel Angulo and Vicente are all out through injury. Juan Mata sustained a minor knock in midweek UEFA Cup action but he was taken off at half time and he has since shaken off the niggle.
Midfielder Manuel Fernandes, who had to appear in court on Thursday to face allegations of assault, should make the first team without any issues while David Villa, rested in midweek, will also be reinstated.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Renan – Miguel, Marchena, Albiol, Del Horno – Joaquín, Albelda, Manuel Fernandes, Pablo Hernández – Mata – Villa
Real Betis
Edu Schmidt continues to nurse a nagging thigh injury that has ruled him out for almost the entire of the season so far. Leftback Fernando Vega could make a return after missing last week’s clash with Sporting Gijón through injury.
Centreback Juanito trained with the rest of the squad on Friday following extensive treatment on a back problem earlier in the week and he is expected to make the starting berth.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Casto – Nélson, Arzu, Juanito, Monzón/Fernando Vega – Aurélio, Capi – Damiá, Emana, Juanma – Sergio García
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Valencia – Joaquín
The 27-year-old winger has rediscovered the kind of form he showed at Betis that made him one of the hottest properties in Europe in the early half of the decade. Not only has he been providing the attacking impetus from midfield, but he has also been scoring goals on a regular basis. And up against his former club, he will be extra-motivated to perform and get on the scoresheet.
Real Betis – Achille Emana
Not only is he easily Betis’ best player week in, week out, but he has also been consistently one of the league’s best players so far this season. A box-to-box midfielder who is equally as adept at defending as he is at attacking, the under-rated 26 year old Cameroonian is just the player the team need to help stifle Valencia’s forward line and infiltrate their often stubborn rearguard.
Valencia began the season with a bang, winning nine of their first 11 competitive games once the league kicked off on August 30. So impressive was their start that it immediately buried the ghost of last term as new coach, Unai Emery, quickly established himself as the most successful Los Ché trainer on debut while the club recorded their best start to a season in their history.
But last season’s Copa del Rey champions have fallen off the pace slightly since November rolled around. They suffered their first defeat of the campaign – at the Mestalla no less – on the first of the month when they were stunned 2-4 by Racing Santander.
Their next immediate game in their own backyard ended in a disappointing 1-1draw against Danish side FC København in the UEFA Cup, before they crashed to their second successive home defeat in the league when they were humbled by newly-promoted Sporting Gijón 2-3.
All in all, they have won just three times in their last seven games on all fronts and just one out of their last four at home, and even then, it was against third division side, Portugalete in the Copa. And as far as La Liga is concerned, a similar track record of one win in four matches has seen them tumble from the top of the table down to fourth place, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
But a thumping 0-4 win at Rosenborg in the UEFA Cup last Thursday may just be the result they have been looking for to resuscitate their campaign. And it could not have come at a better time as Emery’s charges now enter that particular phase of the season where they have to take on Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Villarreal all in close proximity. Their first test, however, will be the visit of a Real Betis side in red-hot form.
Getting better from the bottom.
In sharp contrast to Los Ché, Betis commenced their league program in horrendous fashion. They failed to win in their opening six league games, losing four and drawing the other two to leave them rooted firmly to the bottom-end of the ladder.
But a stern ultimatum set out by the club directors seemed to have worked wonders as coach Paco Chaparro, on the brink of losing his job, led his troops to seven victories in their last eight competitive outings. They have rocketed themselves from the relegation zone straight up to the UEFA Cup-qualifying places in a matter of weeks. Currently lying in eighth spot, they are just a mere point behind sixth-placed Atlético Madrid.
They will enter Sunday’s clash at the Mestalla at the back of four straight triumphs, two of which were against opponents that Valencia so miserably lost to. But by the same token, this will also be their toughest match since the 2-1 defeat to Villarreal back in early October, which was the tail-end of that abysmal early season streak.
Los Verdiblancos’ hugely expensive but wildly talented team which they assembled during the summer transfer market finally appear to be hitting their stride. On paper, they have a squad to rival any of the current top five and if they can continue to improve or at the very least maintain their performance levels for the second half of the term, they should easily be able to secure a spot in Europe next season.
FORM GUIDE
Valencia
Nov 27 Rosenborg BK 0-4 Valencia (UEFA CUP)
Nov 22 Sevilla 0-0 Valencia (LA LIGA)
Nov 15 Valencia 2-3 Sporting Gijón (LA LIGA)
Nov 12 Valencia 3-0 Portugalete (COPA DEL REY)
Nov 09 Getafe 0-3 Valencia (LA LIGA)
Real Betis
Nov 23 Sporting Gijón 1-2 Real Betis (LA LIGA)
Nov 16 Real Betis 3-1 Racing Santander (LA LIGA)
Nov 12 Real Betis 2-0 CD Castellón (COPA DEL REY)
Nov 09 Numancia 2-4 Real Betis (LA LIGA)
Nov 02 Real Betis 0-3 Deportivo La Coruña (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Emiliano Moretti, David Silva, Miguel Ángel Angulo and Vicente are all out through injury. Juan Mata sustained a minor knock in midweek UEFA Cup action but he was taken off at half time and he has since shaken off the niggle.
Midfielder Manuel Fernandes, who had to appear in court on Thursday to face allegations of assault, should make the first team without any issues while David Villa, rested in midweek, will also be reinstated.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Renan – Miguel, Marchena, Albiol, Del Horno – Joaquín, Albelda, Manuel Fernandes, Pablo Hernández – Mata – Villa
Real Betis
Edu Schmidt continues to nurse a nagging thigh injury that has ruled him out for almost the entire of the season so far. Leftback Fernando Vega could make a return after missing last week’s clash with Sporting Gijón through injury.
Centreback Juanito trained with the rest of the squad on Friday following extensive treatment on a back problem earlier in the week and he is expected to make the starting berth.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Casto – Nélson, Arzu, Juanito, Monzón/Fernando Vega – Aurélio, Capi – Damiá, Emana, Juanma – Sergio García
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Valencia – Joaquín
The 27-year-old winger has rediscovered the kind of form he showed at Betis that made him one of the hottest properties in Europe in the early half of the decade. Not only has he been providing the attacking impetus from midfield, but he has also been scoring goals on a regular basis. And up against his former club, he will be extra-motivated to perform and get on the scoresheet.
Real Betis – Achille Emana
Not only is he easily Betis’ best player week in, week out, but he has also been consistently one of the league’s best players so far this season. A box-to-box midfielder who is equally as adept at defending as he is at attacking, the under-rated 26 year old Cameroonian is just the player the team need to help stifle Valencia’s forward line and infiltrate their often stubborn rearguard.
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