vs
VALENCIA
Camp Nou, Barcelona
October 16, 2010, 23:25 IST
It isn’t very often that FC Barcelona welcomes league leaders at the Nou Camp. The defending champions have had an erratic start to their season. After six rounds, the Catalans lie fourth in the La Liga. Quite surprisingly, Barca won all their away games and dropped as many as 5 points at home – courtesy a shocker against newly promoted Hercules and a draw against injury-ravaged Mallorca.
Valencia on the other hand has had a great start to their season. Pundits were of the opinion that the loss of the Davids would cost Valencia dearly. On the contrary, Valencia have conjured up a dream start to their 2010-11 campaign. Aritz Aduriz leads the clubs scoring charts with three scores so far with Joaquin, Vicente and Robert Soldado following suit. The Los Che have a healthy goal difference as well. Given the kind of season this is turning out to be, a healthy goal difference might just be the deciding factor in the end. At the end of the first six rounds, they are yet to lose a game and have dropped only a couple of points. The La Liga pacesetters will definitely like to build on their fabulous start and pick up all three points when they travel north this weekend.
This will be the first true test for the visitors and none of the opposition they have faced thus far, were slotted in the top seven spots last season. New Valencia striker Roberto Soldado is hoping his side can add to Pep Guardiola’s headaches this weekend, saying: “It’s the moment to hurt Barcelona. They are suffering at home, we are playing well away and we have to take advantage of these circumstances.“
The bad news for the hosts kept coming in with the likelihood of having to play without either one or two of their biggest stars – Xavi and David Villa. The former is still recuperating from an Achilles tendon problem, while Villa succumbed to a knee injury after scoring in the victory over Scotland on Tuesday night. Although Xavi, Villa & Pedro trained with the team, chances are less that all three might feature. “We will see, if Xavi is okay then he will take part, but if not he will be rested“, Guardiola said. Roberto Soldado, former Getafe hitman, believes Barca have the strength in depth to cover David Villa and Xavi’s absence.
Bojan has not only inherited the hallowed number nine from Ibrahimovic but also his impossible misses. The youngster is getting much needed playing time, but he’s failing to prove that he’s good enough for FC Barcelona. Despite his terrible form, Pep Guardiola might just hand him yet another start. In the absence of Xavi, the key to unlock a miserly Valencia defense should be Iniesta. He’s been in pretty good form this year, and scored a goal against Scotland midweek during internationals. FC Barcelona will be only too eager to resurrect their wretched home form. “We can’t afford to lose any more points at home,” full-back Adriano said earlier this week.
Even if Valencia were to fall by the side as the league season matures, with Real Madrid exhibiting Jose Mourinho’s characteristic defensiveness, Pep Guardiola’s men cannot afford to let in multiple goals even if they do manage to salvage a victory. What will worry Guardiola the most, however, is the realization that the aura surrounding his side has been considerably diminished with the spate of less than impressive results. Gone, seemingly, are the days when Barca won the game even before kick-off – when their awesome reputation preceded them on to the field. With more teams beginning to believe they can nick a point or two off the champions, Guardiola’s men will have to dig in their heels and weather the storm.
Valencia too have had their share of problems. They will be without the services of winger Joaquin Sanchez, who’s been ruled out for about a fortnight. Nonetheless, Unai Emery’s men would like to snatch maximum points from one of the most difficult venues to play at, in Spain.
Possible Starting Line-Ups:
FC Barcelona: Valdes(GK), Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Iniesta, Keita, Messi, Villa, Bojan.
Valencia: Cesar(GK), Saltor, Navarro, T. Costa, Mathieu, Topal, P. Hernandez, M. Fernandez, Mata, Adruiz, Soldado.
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona)
Despite having the likes of Lionel Messi, David Villa, Andres Iniesta and others, Gerard Pique is this week’s special player. Barcelona’s attack has been shunted out a few times this season and it’s been observed that if Leo Messi fails, the team suffers. Against a miserly Valencia, if Messi is marked out of the game, then Barcelona has to change their approach. Gerard Pique might just come handy. He’s tall and in the absence of minnow-slaying Ibrahimovic, the responsibility to win balls in the air will fall to him. Also, the defender is the only physically imposing presence in an otherwise slightly-built side, and could be the variable factor that throws Valencia’s game plan into disarray.
Past Encounters:
2009-10: FC Barcelona 3-0 Valencia; Valencia 0-0 FC Barcelona
2008-09: FC Barcelona 4-0 Valencia; Valencia 2-2 FC Barcelona
2007-08: FC Barcelona 6-0 Valencia
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
FC Barcelona 2-1 Valencia