Real Zaragoza vs Valencia CF Match Preview

Real Zaragoza vs Valencia CF Match Preview

Stadium: La Romareda

Date: 23.02.2013; 18:00 CET

25th matchday, La Liga

             Coaches: Manolo Jiménez and Ernesto Valverde

Valencia CF is coming to this match after a 2-0 victory over RCD Mallorca from last week in which Valencia CF continued its good form in the Spanish league and now finds itself in 5th position, just two points off of 4th position with a chance to overtake Malaga if Valencia CF wins over Real Zaragoza and Malaga lose.

The team did not fare as well in the Champions league, loosing the match at home 1-2 to PSG and going one step closer to going out of the competition, though good news is that Ibrahimovich got a red card and will not be available for the second leg and this gives Valencia CF small chance to actually beat PSG, although its going to be hard.

Real Zaragoza has been historically been a tough opponent, though this season hasn't been good for them and in the past 7 matches they haven't won, but have lost 5 times and drew 2 times, so their recent record is terrible and has left them sitting in 17th position on the table, just 4 points over relegation zone Celta Vigo.

For the fist time in a very long time Jeremy Mathieu is back in the squad after recovering fully from his injury and will be ready to start in the match, though the coach is probably going to choose Cissokho over him this time, with Guardado starting at left wing.

Ever Banega has also recovered from his injury and is likely to start with David Albelda and Daniel Parejo in the middle with Feghouli starting at right wing, though the coach Valverde had a long talk with him in one of the training sessions, because he was displeased with his performance and may even bench him for this match, though he would probably get another chance.

Valencia CF squad:

Goalkeepers: Guaita, Alves.
Defenders: Joao, Ricardo Costa, Víctor Ruiz, Cissokho, Mathieu.
Midfielders: Albelda, Éver Banega, Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales, Guardado, Piatti, Feghouli.
Forwards: Jonas, Valdez, Roberto Soldado.

Technical Details Valencia CF (probable setups):
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Line-up: Alves; Pereira, R. Costa, Ruiz, Cissokho; Albelda, Banega, Parejo; Feghuoli, Soldado; Guardado.
Tactics: High defensive line, own half pressure, high frequency wing attacks, mixed passing, doubling down in attack.

Result prediction:
Real Zaragoza 1-2 Valencia CF
While Real Zaragoza have been loosing a lot they haven't been outright outplayed and they know how to score a goal, with Valencia CF also having a change in the defense with Rami being injured and Ruiz to take his place for the first time in a long time and you have a recipe for Valencia CF to concede a goal. That said Valencia CF has been playing very good at home and should have enough firepower to outscore Real Zaragoza and win.

FC Anzhi to purchase Adil Rami for 12 million

Russian football giants FC Anzhi Makhachkala are preparing a 12 million offer to purchase Valencia CF central defender Adil Rami in the summer. Such an offer would actually reach Adil Rami's buyout clause which is 12 million euros right now. The buyout clause started out at 25 million euros, but each year it reduces and in the summer will only be 12 million euros, which means Anzhi can just buy out Adil Rami.

Adil Rami contract expires in 2015,so he still has a long stay if the buyout clause is not met, which could force Manuel Llorente to renegotiate and extend his contract sooner rather than later.

The player's representatives say, however, that Rami and Valencia CF have not received a concrete offer for the player.

Valencia CF interested in Sabri Sarıoğlu

Valencia CF  is very closely following Sabri Sarioglu, reports sabah.com.tr, with the intention of buying him in the summer. He is a versatile Turkish footballer, enlisted in the ranks of Galatasaray, who can play as right wing and as right back.

Sarioglu has a contract with Galatasaray until June 30, 2014 and has an option to renew on the table.

Reports have it that Valencia CF scouts were monitoring him last night at the match between Galatasaray and Schalke 04.

Valencia CF keen on getting Vicente Iborra

Reports from Spain are coming up that Valencia CF is seriously interested in acquiring Vicente Iborra from city rival Levante that the club is even willing to meet the payout clause.

With David Albelda all but having finished his career at Valencia CF and surely to leave in the summer, the cub officials have already found one defensive midfielder in Javi Fuego who will transfer in the summer to Valencia CF, but the club wants to add one more defensive midfielder and a more quality one so that there are absolutely no problems at that position and Vicente Iborra has been identified as the man for the job.

Vicente Iborra clause right now is 6 million euros with the ability to increase to 9 million euros.

Adil Rami out for a month with injury

Valencia CF central defender Adil Rami will be out for almost a month due to the injury he sustained in the match against RCD Mallorca. As expected he has a fractured muscle fiber and will need to rest for a longer period than first thought so that he can recover.

This bad news is offset with the news that Ever Banega is back and will be in contention for a starting spot for the next match in the Spanish league.

Ricardo Costa wants to extend contract with Valencia CF

Valencia CF central defender Ricardo Costa in a press conference today said that he wants to stay at Valencia CF and extend his contract with the club.

He said: "People already know what I want and feel. I want to stay in Valencia CF, but its not only up to me, its up to the club, the president and sporting director as well."
Ricardo Costa added: "I always give everything when I play, I'm one of the captains of the team and I'm happy here, but the club must decide."

About the coach Valverde, Costa said: "He's doing very well and the players are comfortable and happy with how things are going. He said that in the beginning of the season the players and coach change affected the team's performance, but that now they are settled and with Valverde in charge they have better understanding with the coach."

Valencia CF 2-0 RCD Mallorca Match Report

Valencia CF continues its good form in the Spanish league with another win, this time over RCD Mallorca and with 10 men for most of the match, after Tino Costa was dismissed in the 28th minute after a silly outburst of aggression, kicking a Mallorca player.

The match itself was not as interesting and had very few chances on both sides with the biggest chances for RCD Mallorca coming in the second half with two great chances, one from header and one a close range shot.

Valencia CF would basically sit back and defend the whole time with the occasional counter attacks, with the goals coming through a corner kick and the second one from a semi counter attack.
The first goal would come in the 59th minute with Ricardo Costa heading the ball in the net after a good corner kick by Canales.

The second goal for Valencia CF would come in the 80th minute through Roberto Soldado, who was released by Parejo with a wonderful through pass. The goal was pretty lucky though as Mallorca's defense and midfield were atrocious, with Parejo dribbling past 3 players before providing a great pass to Soldado.

Technical details:
Valencia CF  (2): Alves; Joao, Rami (Canales, min. 42), R. Costa, Guardado; Parejo, T. Costa; Feghouli, Jonas (Cissokho, min. 61'), Bernat; Soldado.
RCD Mallorca (0): Aouate; Luna (Casadesús, min.72'), Geromel, Nunes, Hutton; Tissone (Márquez, min. 68'), Pina, Marti; Alfaro (Pereira, min. 62'), Hemed, Giovani.
Goals: 1-0 Min 60’, Ricardo Costa. 2-0 Min 81', Soldado.

Player Ratings:
Diego 8 - several solid saves first two good saves in the first half and then two even greater saves in the second half to keep a clean sheet.
Joao 6.5 - Rarely troubled at the back even as VCF played with 10 men, but was beaten one or twice and could have done better.
Rami 6 - Good at the back until he got injured in what seemed like a stretched muscle.
R. Costa 7.5 - Solid at the back and dealt with everything that came his way, scored Valencia's first goal as well.
Guardado 6 - Good defensive play with the occasional forward array, but was limited in going forward.
Tino Costa 4 - Decent play before he was dismissed, but committed a needless and reckless challenge and was deservedly shown the red card.
Parejo 7 - Covered a lot of ground as the sole midfielder and did really great, providing good cover for the defense and bringing the ball forward. Provid5 - ed a great assist for Soldado's goal.
Feghouli 6 - Good performance, but nothing special. Mostly covered a lot of ground and went back and defended well.
Jonas 5 - Invisible for most of the match and barely got a hold if the ball. Surprised he was substituted last, although early in the second half.
Bernat N/A - Was sacrificed for a defensive substitution after Tino got red and did not have time before to do much.
Soldado 7 - Great performance by Soldado, always finding himself in dangerous positions and coming further down to claim the ball. Good run for the goal to get in a good spot.
Subs:
Ruiz 6 - Slotted well into the defense even though he was put in as midfield, after Rami was injured and did well.
Canales 6.5 - Wasn't too active, but was a decent outlet to receive the ball and provided the corner from which R. Costa scored.
Cissokho 5.5 - Mixed defensive display as he was beaten for the ball on one occasion where Diego had to make a big save to save Valencia and was suspect few more times,