Valencia vs Espanyol: Mestalla showdown as both sides chase vital points
Valencia look to build on their Getafe win as they host an Espanyol side desperate to end their three-match winless streak in a crucial LaLiga clash.
Valencia welcome Espanyol to Mestalla this afternoon with both sides desperate for points for very different reasons in what promises to be a proper Sunday afternoon scrap.
Valencia seeking home comfort
The hosts will be hoping their recent win at Getafe has calmed the storm clouds that were gathering over Mestalla. The Valencia faithful weren’t exactly serving up tea and biscuits to their players a fortnight ago, making their feelings crystal clear after a dire run plunged them back into the relegation mire.
While that away victory has given them a bit of breathing space, they’re still looking over their shoulders. The good news is their home form has shown signs of improvement lately. They’ll need it to continue, especially given they’re facing something of a defensive crisis:
- All four first-choice defenders are unavailable
- Corberán likely won’t repeat the Pepelu-at-centre-back experiment
- Umar Sadiq could make his first start up front
Espanyol’s wobble
After a surprisingly strong first half of the season, the visitors are enduring a bit of a wobble. Three games without a win, collecting just a single point, has slightly taken the shine off their campaign.
Manager Manolo González showed his sense of humour in his pre-match presser, joking to his players: “If we don’t win, they’ll sack me.” Behind the laughs though, there must be frustration as Espanyol have deserved more from recent performances but been let down by their finishing.
They’ll need to find their shooting boots if they want to improve their historically poor record at Mestalla - a stadium where they suffered their last relegation, a memory that still haunts their supporters.
Key battle
Pepelu vs Urko could be decisive today. Valencia’s midfielder should return to his natural position after last week’s defensive experiment. Espanyol will be looking to Urko’s physical presence to disrupt the home side’s rhythm and make life uncomfortable for Valencia.
The visitors will be without Puado for the rest of the season, while Omar El Hilali is suspended after accumulating too many yellow cards.