Derbi Day

By: Cesar | January 9th, 2009

Tomorrow’s Derby day in Valencia, as Our Beloved square off against state rivals Villarreal in a barbed-wire, steel-cage match at the Mestalla.

Villarreal are direct rivals, 7th in La Liga with 29 points, a mere 4 behind Valencia.

But that’s where the rivalry ends.

It’s not like they’re Levante, who reside a few kilometers away near Benimaclet.
Nor are they Hercules, our worst rivals, who make the nether-regions of Spanish football their home (although they’re in 5th place in the Second Division these days, just 3 points from leaders Salamanca … a true derby next season, perhaps?).

Still, the match means something. Not just in the standings, but in state bragging rights.

Villarreal lost one of its first 14 La Liga matches, but has struggled in the last month against the other top teams.

Villarreal has lost consecutive matches to Sevilla, Barcelona and Real Madrid – three of the top four teams in La Liga. That’s a good sign for us. Or a bad one, as our state rivals will be playing for their lives at the Mestalla.

Villarreal striker and Turkish international Nihat said, “This is a game that is worth more than three points. For me, it is worth six. They [Valencia] are now second in the league and we must beat them if we do not want the distance to grow any further between ourselves and the top teams,” he was quoted as saying by MARCA.

“We want to start winning again as soon as possible. The Mestalla is a good place to do that because we have fond memories of our game against them from past seasons and in addition, it is a derbi. But in games like these, you never know what is going to happen. All I know is that we must win against another very important rival,” he added.

Villarreal has slipped 15 points behind first-place Barcelona and would drop seven points behind Valencia with a loss. After grabbing second last season, the team is suddenly in danger of missing the top four and a Champions League berth.

The Yellow Submarines have just one goal in their last four matches – and have just one win in their last 10 overall.

Joseba Llorente, who leads the team with nine goals, returned to the field for the first time since Dec. 14 in last week’s 1-0 loss to Real as well.

With Llorente regaining full fitness, he’ll pair with American-born Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi, who has eight goals, to spark Villarreal’s offense.

Villarreal still has American teen Jozy Altidore available after it rejected an offer from Everton of the English Premier League for the striker. Altidore has played in six games, including two starts, and could become a more crucial part of Villarreal’s offense the rest of the season.

Unfortunately for them, Nihat Kahveci will be out of the game … the former Real Sociedad man can be deadly when given the chance … he’s still injured and will be unavailable for our rivals.

The Yellow Submarines have had success against Valencia, winning the last three meetings – including two at Valencia’s Mestalla. Whatever. That doesn’t mean anything in tomorrow’s match …

Unfortunately, Our Beloved will be without the services of big-boned defender Miguel, who lost his marbles in the Copa Del Rey match against Racing Santander a few days ago, telling the linesman he’d murder him after receiving a second yellow card.

It’s 3 games for the Portuguese defender. Good going. He did ask to be forgiven in a press conference after the game, and said he is sorry for the incident, but said he did not threaten the official with death.

Hmm … according to the match report, the defender told the assistant referee: “Son of a bitch. I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch!”

Miguel has since apologized, saying, “I was angry because I felt powerless, but that does not justify my reaction at all. I apologize to the referee and his assistant for saying these things, which I regret.”

Coach Unai Emery didn’t feel that the incident was as bad as it looked, despite having to rush off the technical area to restrain the fat defender.

“It was a difficult decision for Miguel to accept as he felt that he had touched the ball,” he explained during the post-match conference.

“His reaction was understandable because he lost his cool. There’s no need for any further or heavier punishment as it was nothing more than a heated moment,” he added.

Is he getting paid to say these things?

He was not the only Valencia employee to receive a ban though, as Pepe de los Santos Cifre, a member of the medical team, was handed a two-match ban for insulting the assistant on the touchline, and Vicente was given a one-match ban for his red card.

Uggh … so it’s not enough to receive a red card? Now you have to threaten death to the linesman? Grow up, guys …

Regardless of the Vicente and Miguel absence, the match is of significance to former captain David Albelda, who played for both clubs.

The midfielder was on loan with the Yellow Submarine for two seasons before establishing himself with Our Beloved and today, he declared the match ’special’, before discussing the importance of it.

“We take it as a game more, with the intention to win and to move seven points clear of them. That would be a crucial gap with a team also competing for the Champions League places,” he mused.

“Villarreal are a Champions League team though, and they have a good foundation. They are doing very well and their progress is noted. I believe it will be a very difficult match.” (Honestly, who does these translations? If I had more time, I’d do them myself …)

Valencia will certainly be favorites for the match though, even more so when one takes into account that Marcos Senna is suspended. (He is? Sweet … )

Albelda praised the Spaniard today, describing him as “important and giving a lot to the Villarreal midfield,” but said that even without them they are a “great team and will be just as tough.”

So … big match tomorrow. Make sure to look out for a commemorative 90th anniversary ‘tifo’ by the Mestalla faithful …

We can go a long way to cementing our place in next season’s Champions League by winning this match.

I know, I know. It’s a long season. But morale is a big thing. And believing we can win against any club on any given day is a big step to take.

So let’s show them who the best team in Valencia is tomorrow. Their name is VALENCIA CF! And after last season’s 3-0 losses, a dominant victory would be nice …

AMUNT!!!!!!

By the way, who is Manolo El Del Bombo supporting? Hopefully, Curro Torres and Hugo Viana get the day off to watch the match … if not, you know they’ll be serving the finest lager this side of the Mestalla at the bar for a few hours before and after the match …

Category: Team News

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