La Liga Preview: Valencia - Sporting Gijon

Valencia will be hoping to keep up with the leaders as they welcome Sporting Gijon to the Mestalla on Saturday night...

Back On Track

Before Valencia traveled to Getafe last week, there were serious concerns about a sharp dip in form. Having set the pace at the beginning of the season, the results had started to fade, with a shocking 4-2 loss at home to Racing Santander followed up with an equally disappointing 1-1 draw at home to FC Kobenhavn in the UEFA Cup. Suddenly, Los Che were starting to resemble last season's ragged outfit, rather than this terms dominant version.

All those worries were laid to rest, however, as Valencia stormed to a comfortable 3-0 victory, leaving them in third place, just two points off leaders Barcelona. Their success is largely due to their stunning home form, the Racing reverse notwithstanding. Not only have they won four out of five, but 14 goals have been racked up in the process, illustrating the ease with which Valencia have dismissed their visiting opponents. Unsurprisingly, David Villa has been at the forefront of the campaign, with his 10 goals placing him second in the Pichichi chart.

While Valencia may not have the Champions League distractions that their main title rivals will have to endure (the UEFA Cup is arguably less taxing), strength in depth may still be an issue for Los Che. Although their squad is by no means sparse, the back up players are of a different level altogether from the first team. Even though they have coped admirably with David Silva's prolonged absence, further injuries to key players could spell the end of Valencia's title push. Should they endure some long overdue luck on the injury front, however, the club should be heavily involved in the title race until its resolution.

Results Guaranteed

Having only just returned to the top flight, Sporting Gijon have already established themselves as everyone's second team. One of the primary reasons for their popularity is that entertainment is absolutely guaranteed every time they take the field. Ten games into the season, Sporting are yet to experience a draw, having served up four wins and six losses.

It was a horror start to the season for Gijon, although that was to be expected when the fixtures computer presented them with Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villareal in their first five game. Having duly lost all four of those, along with their opening day encounter with Getafe, Sporting sat bottom of the table after five rounds, with no points and 20 goals scored against them. It has been a remarkable turnaround since, with the ecstasy of four straight wins only slightly tempered by a somewhat unlucky 1-0 loss at Racing Santander last weekend.

Despite their extremely limited resources, Sporting are a side committed to attack, much to the pleasure of neutral observers everywhere. Their 16 goals places them at sixth in the goal-scoring charts; of course, this is to the detriment of their defence. With 23 goals scored against them, Sporting are firmly at the foot of the table in this regard. Still, despite their extremely porous defence, Gijon currently occupy a respectable 14th position.

FORM GUIDE

Valencia

WON 3-0 (H) Portugalete (Copa Del Rey Round of 32 Second Leg, November 12)

WON 3-0 (A) Getafe (La Liga Matchday 10, November 9)

DREW 1-1 (H) FC Kobenhavn (UEFA Cup Group Stage, November 6)

LOST 4-2 (H) Racing Santander (La Liga Matchday 9, November 1)

WON 4-1 (A) Portugalete (Copa Del Rey Round of 32 First Leg, October 29)

Sporting Gijon

WON 2-0 (H) Numancia (Copa Del Rey Round of 32 Second Leg, November 12)

LOST 1-0 (A) Racing Santander (La Liga Matchday 10, November 9)

WON 3-1 (H) Numancia (La Liga Matchday 9, November 1)

WON 1-0 (A) Numancia (Copa Del Rey Round of 32 Second Leg, October 29)

WON 3-0 (A) Deportivo La Coruna (La Liga Matchday 8, October 26th)

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

The only major injury concern for Los Che is the continued absence of David Silva. Alexis went off during the Copa clash in midweek as a precaution, but should be fit for this one.

Probable Starting XI - Renan - Miguel, Marchena,Albiol, Moretti - Albelda, Baraja, Fernandes - Joaquin, Mata, Villa

Sporting Gijon

Sporting's only injury problem concerns Carmelo, who will be out for approximately a month.

Probable Starting XI - Cuellar - Sastre, Neru, Gerard, Canella - Camacho, Kike Mateo, Matabuena - Diego Castro, Moran, Bilic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Valencia

It will be an emotional night for David Villa, who will come up against the side who gave him his professional debut. A proud Asturian, Villa is a staunch Sporting fan, and, having scored 38 goals over three seasons at his former club, he is unlikely to celebrate too wildly in the likely event of him finding the back of the net.

Sporting Gijon 

In the absence of Carmelo, Sporting's goal-scoring burden falls upon the shoulders of Mate Bilic. He has not disappointed so far, leading the club's scoring charts with five strikes.

PREDICTION

Sporting are more than capable of beating most teams in La Liga, but it is against the big boys that their comical defence comes unstuck. Having conceded six against Barcelona, and seven against Real Madrid, a similar thrashing could be on the cards here. Their recent revival may aid them in reducing the margin of defeat, but it will still be a comfortable three points for Los Che.

Valencia 4-1 Sporting Gijon

Arjun Miglani