La Liga Preview: Valencia versus Sporting Gijon
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 are all set to take on Sporting Gijon in their next Spanish Primera Division tie, let’s take a look at how both the Spanish clubs will line up for their matchup which takes place at Estadio Mestalla on Saturday, 19th of February, 2011.
Valencia
After settling for a disappointing draw at the Mestalla stadium in a mid-week against Schalke during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen, Valencia now prepare to host Sporting Gijon over the weekend. Los Che’s are currently third in the La Liga table,
which means that they are in pole position to qualify for next year’s UEFA Champions League. Not only that, Unai Emery’s team are already looking over their shoulders at the likes of Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao as the race for a third place finish in the
Spanish league heats up.
Out of their last five matches, Valencia have won three and drawn two. In doing so, Valencia have conceded an astonishing number of six goals which means that their defence has been relatively leaky in. However, Emery’s energetic team has also netted 10
goals in their last five competitive fixtures, which bodes well for their attacking trio of Juan Mata, Pablo Hernandez and Joaquin Sanchez.
Sporting Gijon
Fresh from their draw against Barcelona, Sporting are now ready to aim and fire at Valencia. Rojiblancos are well aware of the threat that is posed by Valencia’s wingers but http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-c23383 Preciado’s team is dangerously close to the relegation zone in the Spanish
Primera Division. Currently in 16th place with just 23 points from 23 games, David Villa’s ex-club is on the brink of being drawn into the relegation mire.
With only a one point lead over the 18th placed Osasuna, an unfavourable result for the Spanish club against Valencia will spell disaster for the Red and Whites. Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Sporting have won three, lost one and
drawn one. A win against Valencia will work wonders for Preciado’s men.
Team News
The home side might be without their injured midfielder Juan Mata as the Spanish national team playmaker is out with a thigh injury. Mata is scheduled to undergo a late fitness test for Los Che’s on Saturday morning to determine the extent of his injury.
Other than Mata’s fitness issues, Emery has a full squad available for selection.
Expected Valencia Line up: Guaita, Alba, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Costa-c4321
The visitors will have the services of Sebastian Eguren available to them as the playmaker has fully recovered from his shoulder injury. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Lora-c4329 and Gregory Arnolin are also scheduled to return from their suspensions so Sporting Gijon has a full squad
for the tie against Valencia.
Expected Sporting Gijon Line up: Cuellar, Lora, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Castro-c11103, Barral
Key Players
After scoring a crucial goal against Barcelona, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Barral-c10428 will once again be under the spot light as Sporting Gijon travel to the Mestalla stadium. The Spanish striker has been in prolific form of late and his goal scoring endeavours are aimed at helping
Sporting to retain their Spanish Primera Division status.
For Valencia, the focus will be on Joaquin Sanchez. After two goals against Atletico Madrid, the Spanish winger is in a world of his own at the moment. As Valencia gear up to cement their third place spot, Joaquin is destined to play a major role in their
push for the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-2012 club football season.
Prediction
Still recovering from their round of sixteen mid-week tie against Schalke, Valencia are favourites for this matchup but Sporting’s resurgent form also makes them formidable opponents. Prediction: 2-1 to Valencia.
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