The match being at noon Pacific on a weekday is certainly a new experience for me. At least I’ll be able to listen in with English commentary while I’m at work.
On paper this is a game Valencia should win, but it’s never that simple. Valencia’s summer window was better than usual, the first in 5 years where the club were net spenders
Defence got weaker, right back significantly better. All the other changes were like for like, Ramazani, who scored at RSP, will be missed, but Elliott, on loan from LIverpool, is rated as better by everyone. Crucially, players like Guerra and Hugo Duro, who were linked with exits, stayed. Valencia have tripled the salary allowance and now have the 8th highest in La Liga. Despite all that, this game is Sevilla’s for the taking. Valencia’s awful ownership have turned the club into a sh*tshow, but the more immediate problem is the current coach Corberan. He’s settled on a brand of football so defensively dull and hard to watch that it makes becoming a Getafe season ticket holder sound appealing. It would be forgivable if it worked but the team ships goals, while simultaneously being useless and clueless in attack. He seems to have fallen out with senior players like Duro, Gaya and Dani Raba and plays inferior players instead and has lost the dressing room and fans. Sevilla’s previous 2 permanent coaches, Almeyda and Pimiento were sacked immediately after a loss to Valencia, while Nuno suffered the opposite after a Sevilla defeat. Sevilla could and should take advantage of this and do Valencia fans a favour by putting Corberan out of his misery.
All in all, this game should be a key game between 2 clubs fighting for 4th, instead it’s a case study in how awful owners can drag a big institution down. Enjoy the game.
And there’s the Valencia line-up, just more weirdness from the coach, Pepelu is a midfielder, but is chosen in defence. Tarrega started well but is very error prone of late. Ugrinic and Dieng in the centre are meaty, but the latter lacks European league experience. Sato looks a good prospect, but is lost under this coach. Otorbi is a promising youth product… similar story to Sato. Danjuma is useless as a forward, but the coach has beef with Duro, so only plays him reluctantly. Should be a home win.
