Wake Me Up When It’s Over

By: Cesar | December 16th, 2008

Our Beloved Valencia CF travel to France tomorrow to face off against St. Etienne in the final match in Group G of the UEFA Cup (Euro Vase).

Etienne are currently in first place in the group, two points above Los Che.
And … I’m too bored to write more about this match.

I know, I know. I should be oh-so-passionate about this game, a match that could decide our fate in Euro Vase, UEFA’s consolation prize.

But really … when we’re already qualified for the 2nd round, when we face Real Madrid on Saturday … how am I supposed to get riled up for this game?

Here, the efficient Goal.com tells us a little bit about our competition:

St Etienne have been impressive in the UEFA Cup, easily coasting to the top of the section with commanding wins over Rosenborg and København. But their domestic form has been woeful. Currently languishing in 17th place in the French league, they are only a hazardous two points clear of the relegation zone.

Coach Alain Perrin will have to make the tough decision whether to rest his key players to focus on Ligue 1 duties, or send out a decently strong first team to face their Spanish counterparts to avoid finishing second and having to meet a Champions League opponent.

Basically, they’re not very good …

As far as we’re concerned, we’re taking a full squad to France. But with the Madrid match on the weekend, don’t expect to see David Villa, Joaquin and Mata. Look for lads like Guaita, Curro Torres and Hugo Viana to drop their Manolo shifts and stretch their legs some against France’s 17th-best squad.

So … excuse me while I yawn through this post … but wake me up when this match is over …

As for the game on the weekend, the entire Spanish sporting press (i.e. Madrid agenda pushers AS and MARCA) are creaming in their pants over Madrid’s performance against Barcelona this past weekend.

Am I crazy or did they not lose that match, just like former coach Bernd Schuster said they would?

For an insightful read about this strange phenomenon, read Sid Lowe’s current article in the Guardian.

Seems some journalists in the capital didn’t see the same game I did … a hard-fought contest, yes. But one that showed Barca’s superiority over and over again.

The game this weekend’s a big one.

Personally, I consider Real Madrid our biggest rivals, more than Barcelona and certainly more than the Valencian triumvirate of Levante, Villarreal and Hercules.

I’ve mixed feelings about the capital’s team.

While my feelings for Barcelona are pretty clear (although more muddled the past few months), Madrid always present me with a conundrum.

You may remember we’ve already played them this season, losing Spain’s season-opening SuperCopa in devastating fashion.

As far as winger Joaquin is concerned, Valencia are heading to the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend looking for reprisal for the Cup defeat.

“We want a bit of revenge because we were really hurting after that defeat,” Joaquín explained.

“Although they are not doing well, Madrid are still Madrid and we will have to be at our best because we will be playing the current champions at their place. We cannot let our guard down at all and we will keep going to see what we can do. The whole second half of the season is yet to come.

“We are taking each game as it comes and I think the first half of the season has been very positive.”

Great attitude and nice to hear Pisha give reporters something more than the usual cliches. The games matter to the players, too. Who knew?

With Fabio Cannavaro and Wesley Sneijder doubtful for the match, who knows? We may get our chance at revenge after all …