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Men Of La Mancha: Money Train
Valencia may have to sell its stars to stay financially afloat, but if said stars continue this form, they should haul in quite a load of cash. David Mosse breaks down the week that was in La Liga.
Nov 23, 2009 3:07:35 AM
If Valencia's survival really does depend on selling off as many players as possible, supporters can at least take solace in the fact that this team is loaded with stars any club in Europe would love to have.
The quality of Valencia's roster has indeed become its greatest asset. Not only will certain players bring in some much needed cash in the transfer market – the club is reportedly over 500 million euros in debt – for two hours each week they help take the minds of the fans away from all the problems off the field.
Unai Emery's side is playing arguably the most attractive soccer in Spain and achieving great results, the latest being Sunday's commanding 3-1 win over Osasuna in Pamplona. Valencia entered the match as the best visiting team in La Liga, having collected the most points and scored the most goals away from home. It didn't take long for Osasuna to find out why.
Even without the influential Juan Mata, Valencia took control of the game early on and scored two wonderful goals in the first 20 minutes. The opener came courtesy of David Villa, who latched on to a pass from Carlos Marchena and redirected the ball into the net for his ninth goal in 11 games. Barring an injury, El Guaje will run away with the Pichichi trophy this season.
But Villa's goal may well have been topped by David Albelda's, as the midfielder chipped the ball over the head of goalkeeper Ricardo from the edge of the area to double the lead. Marchena made it 3-0 in the second half with a brilliant shot of his own, before substitute Masoud Shojaei pulled one back for the home side, which finished the match with nine men.
Pablo Hernandez and David Silva also shone brightly in Pamplona. Both should be near the top of any club's shopping list right now. Then again, if Valencia's beleaguered front office can resist the urge to begin purging the team in the upcoming winter transfer window, it can expect a cash windfall at the end of the season as a result of Champions League qualification.
Based on the form displayed in the first three months, Los Che have to be considered a virtual lock to finish in the top four at the very least. Sevilla has received the lion's share of the credit for preventing Real Madrid and Barcelona from running away from the pack, but it wouldn't be a stretch to call La Liga a four-team race at this point, especially considering the problems facing the big two.
How ironic that Pep Guardiola has treated his stars with kid gloves this season because of his concern over a lack of depth, yet Barcelona arrives at this most important week potentially decimated. First, the swine flu claimed two starters in Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure, but the worst news came on Saturday when Lionel Messi limped off in the second half of the 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
The Argentine can consider himself lucky his face is still intact after he received a boot across the eyes from Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta earlier in the game. But both Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic now face a race against time to be ready for Inter on Tuesday and Real Madrid next Sunday.
And Barcelona will enter the game against Madrid looking up at its rivals in the standings. For all the doom and gloom surrounding Manuel Pellegrini's side this season, the Merengues have actually made their best start in 17 years. A 1-0 victory over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu on Saturday moved Madrid into first place of a league that is proving a lot more balanced than anyone imagined.
Tilting at Windmills (Barcelona vs. Madrid referee report card)
Nothing much to discuss in the Barcelona-Bilbao match, but plenty to talk about in Madrid's win over Racing Santander. Referee Rafael Dominguez ignored a clear penalty suffered by Karim Benzema in the first half, and also disallowed a goal by the Frenchman for a very tight offside call early in the second half. But he saved his biggest mistake for last.
Just 13 minutes from time, Dominguez ruled out a perfectly good equalizer by Racing youngster Sergio Canales, who was on the receiving end of a sublime backheel pass by Luis Garcia. The decision allows Real to arrive at the Camp Nou as leaders, and also assures, for one week at least, we won't be hearing about Villarato.
Don Quixote (Player of the Round) – Nilmar, Villarreal
Nilmar prefers the yellow of Brazil to that of Villarreal. He scored more times in his country's recent two-game Middle East Tour than he had in La Liga entering this round. But on Sunday, Nilmar proved he can bring the goods at club level as well. The 25-year-old striker contributed Villarreal's first two goals in a 3-1 victory over Valladolid at El Madrigal.
He opened the scoring after six minutes, heading in a perfect cross from midfielder Damian Escudero from a few years out. The second also came from his head, but from a much farther distance, as Nilmar ran on to a long ball from defender Diego Godin and surprised goalkeeper Justo Villar by finishing from outside the area. Villarreal has won three consecutive games at home.
The Impossible Dream (Goal of the Round) – Diego Perotti, Sevilla
Any of Valencia's three goals against Osasuna would have been a worthy choice this week, but Perotti's strike against Tenerife takes the honors. The young Argentine has been a revelation this season, recently making his national team debut in a friendly against Spain. Real Madrid is said to be preparing a mega offer for him next summer.
On Saturday, he benefited from another moment of brilliance from Jesus Navas, who burst down the right wing and sent a perfect cross to the other side of the box, which Perotti met with a left-footed shot into the back of the net. The early goal paved the way for a 2-1 win, as Sevilla continues to inch closer to the top of the table, thanks in large part to the play of its two talented wingers.
Sancho Panza (Unsung Hero of the Round) – Chori Castro, Mallorca
Mallorca is unquestionably the feel-good story of the season in La Liga due to its ability to take care of business at home, but Gregorio Manzano's side left it very late on Sunday against Almeria. The game was tied with just a few minutes remaining when Uruguayan winger Chori Castro played a pinpoint ball to Victor Casadesus, who fired home the winner from inside the area.
Castro clinched the 3-1 win with a sensational solo effort in stoppage time, his second goal of the game. Mallorca remains in sixth place and will travel to the Mestalla next weekend to take on Valencia in a fascinating encounter that is likely to be overshadowed by that other game.
Rocinante (Goat of the Round) – Pablo Ibanez, Atletico Madrid
To be fair, Atletico has shown a bit more fight under Quique Flores, but the team still keeps inventing new ways to lose. On the verge of one of its best results of the season, which isn't saying a whole lot, defender Pablo Ibanez needlessly clattered over Deportivo's Alberto Lopo in the box. Andres Guardado stepped up and coolly converted the penalty in stoppage time to give his team a 2-1 victory.
Histrionics aside – Atletico had two different players booked for disputing what was clearly a correct call – Ibanez's ill-timed challenge is just the latest blunder from a back line that is bordering on non-competitive at the moment. Sergio Aguero looked the most frustrated at the final whistle. The move to Chelsea can't come soon enough.
Miguel Cervantes (Quote of the weekend)
“ The only thing missing was for him to give the Valencia players kisses.”
– Osasuna manager Jose Antonio Camacho was not exactly thrilled with the referee in his side's defeat against Valencia on Sunday.
David Mosse, Goal.com
Can an African team win next summer's World Cup? Find out in the November issue of Goal.com Magazine.
The quality of Valencia's roster has indeed become its greatest asset. Not only will certain players bring in some much needed cash in the transfer market – the club is reportedly over 500 million euros in debt – for two hours each week they help take the minds of the fans away from all the problems off the field.
Unai Emery's side is playing arguably the most attractive soccer in Spain and achieving great results, the latest being Sunday's commanding 3-1 win over Osasuna in Pamplona. Valencia entered the match as the best visiting team in La Liga, having collected the most points and scored the most goals away from home. It didn't take long for Osasuna to find out why.
Even without the influential Juan Mata, Valencia took control of the game early on and scored two wonderful goals in the first 20 minutes. The opener came courtesy of David Villa, who latched on to a pass from Carlos Marchena and redirected the ball into the net for his ninth goal in 11 games. Barring an injury, El Guaje will run away with the Pichichi trophy this season.
But Villa's goal may well have been topped by David Albelda's, as the midfielder chipped the ball over the head of goalkeeper Ricardo from the edge of the area to double the lead. Marchena made it 3-0 in the second half with a brilliant shot of his own, before substitute Masoud Shojaei pulled one back for the home side, which finished the match with nine men.
Pablo Hernandez and David Silva also shone brightly in Pamplona. Both should be near the top of any club's shopping list right now. Then again, if Valencia's beleaguered front office can resist the urge to begin purging the team in the upcoming winter transfer window, it can expect a cash windfall at the end of the season as a result of Champions League qualification.
Based on the form displayed in the first three months, Los Che have to be considered a virtual lock to finish in the top four at the very least. Sevilla has received the lion's share of the credit for preventing Real Madrid and Barcelona from running away from the pack, but it wouldn't be a stretch to call La Liga a four-team race at this point, especially considering the problems facing the big two.
How ironic that Pep Guardiola has treated his stars with kid gloves this season because of his concern over a lack of depth, yet Barcelona arrives at this most important week potentially decimated. First, the swine flu claimed two starters in Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure, but the worst news came on Saturday when Lionel Messi limped off in the second half of the 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
The Argentine can consider himself lucky his face is still intact after he received a boot across the eyes from Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta earlier in the game. But both Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic now face a race against time to be ready for Inter on Tuesday and Real Madrid next Sunday.
And Barcelona will enter the game against Madrid looking up at its rivals in the standings. For all the doom and gloom surrounding Manuel Pellegrini's side this season, the Merengues have actually made their best start in 17 years. A 1-0 victory over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu on Saturday moved Madrid into first place of a league that is proving a lot more balanced than anyone imagined.
Tilting at Windmills (Barcelona vs. Madrid referee report card)
Nothing much to discuss in the Barcelona-Bilbao match, but plenty to talk about in Madrid's win over Racing Santander. Referee Rafael Dominguez ignored a clear penalty suffered by Karim Benzema in the first half, and also disallowed a goal by the Frenchman for a very tight offside call early in the second half. But he saved his biggest mistake for last.
Just 13 minutes from time, Dominguez ruled out a perfectly good equalizer by Racing youngster Sergio Canales, who was on the receiving end of a sublime backheel pass by Luis Garcia. The decision allows Real to arrive at the Camp Nou as leaders, and also assures, for one week at least, we won't be hearing about Villarato.
 |
Nilmar prefers the yellow of Brazil to that of Villarreal. He scored more times in his country's recent two-game Middle East Tour than he had in La Liga entering this round. But on Sunday, Nilmar proved he can bring the goods at club level as well. The 25-year-old striker contributed Villarreal's first two goals in a 3-1 victory over Valladolid at El Madrigal.
He opened the scoring after six minutes, heading in a perfect cross from midfielder Damian Escudero from a few years out. The second also came from his head, but from a much farther distance, as Nilmar ran on to a long ball from defender Diego Godin and surprised goalkeeper Justo Villar by finishing from outside the area. Villarreal has won three consecutive games at home.
The Impossible Dream (Goal of the Round) – Diego Perotti, Sevilla
Any of Valencia's three goals against Osasuna would have been a worthy choice this week, but Perotti's strike against Tenerife takes the honors. The young Argentine has been a revelation this season, recently making his national team debut in a friendly against Spain. Real Madrid is said to be preparing a mega offer for him next summer.
On Saturday, he benefited from another moment of brilliance from Jesus Navas, who burst down the right wing and sent a perfect cross to the other side of the box, which Perotti met with a left-footed shot into the back of the net. The early goal paved the way for a 2-1 win, as Sevilla continues to inch closer to the top of the table, thanks in large part to the play of its two talented wingers.
Sancho Panza (Unsung Hero of the Round) – Chori Castro, Mallorca
Mallorca is unquestionably the feel-good story of the season in La Liga due to its ability to take care of business at home, but Gregorio Manzano's side left it very late on Sunday against Almeria. The game was tied with just a few minutes remaining when Uruguayan winger Chori Castro played a pinpoint ball to Victor Casadesus, who fired home the winner from inside the area.
Castro clinched the 3-1 win with a sensational solo effort in stoppage time, his second goal of the game. Mallorca remains in sixth place and will travel to the Mestalla next weekend to take on Valencia in a fascinating encounter that is likely to be overshadowed by that other game.
Rocinante (Goat of the Round) – Pablo Ibanez, Atletico Madrid
 |
To be fair, Atletico has shown a bit more fight under Quique Flores, but the team still keeps inventing new ways to lose. On the verge of one of its best results of the season, which isn't saying a whole lot, defender Pablo Ibanez needlessly clattered over Deportivo's Alberto Lopo in the box. Andres Guardado stepped up and coolly converted the penalty in stoppage time to give his team a 2-1 victory.
Histrionics aside – Atletico had two different players booked for disputing what was clearly a correct call – Ibanez's ill-timed challenge is just the latest blunder from a back line that is bordering on non-competitive at the moment. Sergio Aguero looked the most frustrated at the final whistle. The move to Chelsea can't come soon enough.
Miguel Cervantes (Quote of the weekend)
“ The only thing missing was for him to give the Valencia players kisses.”
– Osasuna manager Jose Antonio Camacho was not exactly thrilled with the referee in his side's defeat against Valencia on Sunday.
David Mosse, Goal.com
Can an African team win next summer's World Cup? Find out in the November issue of Goal.com Magazine.
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