J8 ~ Recreativo 1-1 Valencia

La Liga Preview: Recreativo - Valencia

What: La Liga Matchday 8
Who: Recreativo (18th, 5/21pts) vs Valencia (1st, 19/21 pts)
When: Sunday 26 October, 17:00 CET (local)
Where: Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Andalucía



The Valencia charge continues unchallenged through the La Liga pack. Unai Emery’s men have been proficient in seeing off their opponents so far, scoring freely at home when beating the likes of Deportivo and Numancia, but have been solid and steadfast away. The manner in which they have presented their flair and fluidity at the Mestalla has at times been a joy to watch. Even without the influential Silva, who has been crocked for most of the campaign, they have performed like the Valencia of Rafa Benitez, and even, arguably, the Valencia of Hector Cuper.

How has this miraculous transformation from the chaos of Koeman occurred in such a short space of time? It has many baffled; Emery has barely altered the squad, yet there is a swagger and style that was so blatantly lacking under the Dutchman’s tenure. Los Che have gone from a Spanish laughing stock to title dark horses in the space of a year.

The primary reason for the shift in fortunes is now they have a well-liked, approachable, ambitious leader in Emery. He shows respect to seasoned campaigners like Angulo and Albelda instead of the contempt handed to them from Koeman. Also, they have a fully-fit, fully committed David Villa scoring eight goals in seven league games. He is in the form of his life, an indisputably world class talent who orchestrates everything positive in Valencia’s play.

But everyone always knew Villa’s ability. What has been truly pleasing for Emery is the performance of his midfield. His first-choice central pairing that were so disparaged last season have flourished. The David Albelda of old is back controlling the engine room with authority, and Manuel Fernandes’ impudent outside-of-the-foot pass for Villa’s second goal on Sunday acts as a microcosm for his confidence and level of performance. Then there’s Mata – always seen a one for the future – he has proven most definitely one for the present, linking telepathically with Villa and also bagging a healthy four goals from midfield.

They are top of the league, unbeaten, with nineteen points from a possible twenty-one. It is unquestionably title winning form but can it be sustained, or will Recreativo burst their bubble?

They are a side who had been capable of it in the past, but last season they only maintained their La Liga status by the skin of their teeth, and so far this term they have fared no better. Firstly, Atletico Madrid poached striker Sinama-Pongolle over the summer for 10m Euros. He was their key source of goals over the previous two seasons, and as they have only managed three league goals from seven matches, he is proving extremely difficult to replace. Indeed their poor form has warranted a snap reaction from the board, and coach Manolo Zambrano was told to clear his desk after the humiliating 4-0 reverse against Malaga.

The season had started so well, with an excellent 1-0 victory away to Betis, but since then Recre have only managed to add another two points to their total. Lucas Alcaraz, who managed here previously, has been appointed to steady the ship but with limited resources at his disposal has a thankless task to take Recreativo anywhere except into another relegation tussle.

They do have some promising talent in the form of goalkeeper Riesgo, who has been gathering admirers despite shipping twelve goals this season, and 21-year old striker Marco Ruben who is beginning to become an established first-team regular and has time on his side to develop.

However, the most worrying problem for Alcaraz can be found on the fixture calendar. Their next five league games reads Valencia (h), Getafe (h), Sevilla (a), Barcelona (h), and Real Madrid (a). It is a horrible run – what kind of points target can the coach set for a team who are already in the bottom three, then face four of the top five teams in the division within the next month?

FORM GUIDE

Recreativo

Valladolid 1-1 Recreativo (La Liga)
Recreativo 0-4 Malaga (La Liga)
Almeria 1-0 Recreativo (La Liga)
Recreativo 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Recreativo (La Liga)

Valencia

Valencia 4-0 Numancia (La Liga)
Real Valladolid 0-1 Valencia (La Liga)
Valencia 2-1 Marítimo (UEFA Cup)
Valencia 4-2 Deportivo La Coruña (La Liga)
Málaga 0-2 Valencia (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Recreativo

Midfielder Sisi will be out for at least two weeks with a fracture of his leg sustained in the match versus Valladolid. Defender Nasief Morris, who had missed training for most of the week through injury, may still recover in time to keep his 100% appearance record in the Recreativo back line.

Probable XI: Riesgo – Lamas, Morris, Arzo, Poli – Camuñas, Akale, Tornavaca, Fuego– Ruben, Guerrero

Valencia

David Silva is not due until closer to Christmas – how good would Valencia be with him available, and Curo Torres remains a long-term concern, but other than those problems the Valencia team picks himself currently. Vicente has been performing superbly coming from the bench, and he could be pushing for a start soon.

Possible XI: Renan – Miguel, Albiol, Marchena, Moretti –Joaquín, Albelda, Manuel Fernandes, Mata – Morientes , Villa

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Recreativo

Goalkeeper Asier Riesgo plied his trade at Real Sociedad and has been a very busy goalkeeper so far this season, but the little number of points that Recreativo have amassed are down to his displays. Expect him and Villa to be involved heavily against each other on Sunday.

Valencia

For all David Villa’s goals, Mata has really caught the eye for the way he has linked with the striker, and also for his own four goals that have eased some of the expectation from Villa’s shoulders. Creative, skilful, and with an eye for goal, Mata could prove to be one the season’s shining lights.

PREDICTION

The form book will point to an away win here, and if Valencia can find any semblance of rhythm, then an away win can be the only outcome.

Recreativo 0-2 Valencia

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com

This is the only 4-3-3 I would consider (May God save us and the rest of the World from El Bloque):


That midfield is defensively secure and it's quite creative going forward. Maybe Viana and Pablo having a look in for Edu and Joaquin won't be bad either.

As usual, here's the second preview:

Valencia coach Unai Emery is placing little stock in the league standings as he prepares his side for this weekend`s visit to lowly Recreativo Huelva.
The two clubs could hardly have had more contrasting starts to the season, with unbeaten Valencia setting the pace at the top of the table with 19 points from a possible 21, whereas Recre are third-bottom with just five points and three goals to their credit.

Emery is not reading too much into all of that ahead of Sunday`s trip to the Nuevo Colombino however, even though Recre are winless at home and in their last match in Huelva suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Malaga - a result that ultimately cost former coach Manolo Zambrano his job.

"It will be a difficult game. The league table says one thing but what happens on the pitch could say something else,'' said Emery.

"We need to show what has got us to the top of the table because it could happen Recreativo play to their strengths and beat Valencia.

"We must avoid our weaknesses and their virtues coming to the fore. We will have to play with intensity, whichever team maintains this high intensity will have a better chance of winning.

"We will have to keep our motivation very high, they are back at home and with a new coach, and they will also be very keen to stay in this division.''

Emery also warned his side against over-confidence, saying: "Confidence can become negative if it makes you too relaxed on the pitch, thinking we will win without putting the effort in.''

Emery, 36, may be trying to keep everyone`s feet on the ground, but Valencia winger Vicente Rodriguez has been hugely encouraged by his side`s start to the season, and sees similarities between this side and Rafael Benitez's championship winning teams of a few years ago.

"There are similarities between the two sides. Some of the players are the same, but the arrival of a coach like Emery has helped us a lot,'' said the Spain international.

Emery, whose side should feel refreshed having enjoyed a blank week in the UEFA Cup, will again be without David Silva while Ruben Baraja and Carlos Marchena remain doubts, but Asier Del Horno is available after injury.

Recreativo Huelva began the season with an impressive 3-1 win at Real Betis, but have had a wretched time since then, losing four and drawing two of their subsequent six games.

Lucas Alcaraz was the man brought in to replace Zambrano, returning to the club he coached between 2000 and 2003, and in his first match back in charge he was only denied a win when opponents Real Valladolid netted a last-minute equaliser.

Alcaraz is now hoping his side`s fans can cheer them on to a first home victory since April this weekend.

"We are aware the team needs a lot of support and it`s a game in which the fans are going to be behind the team because the know how difficult it is going to be,'' said Alcaraz, who will be without injured duo Sisi and Jose Ignacio Zahinos for the encounter.

- Soccernet.

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Super believes Morientes will start ahead of Angulo. Lets hope the suckers are right for once in their lives. But they are unsure which on of M16 or V14 will start.