Espanyol hosts Valencia this Saturday at the RCDE Stadium in a convulsive moment after the departure of coach Vicente Moreno and with the aim of obtaining a result that calms the waters after the worst run of results of the season against a rival that will try to improve the image that this end of the course is giving.
In fact, the Blue and White team arrives at the match, the last of the campaign at home, after having added one point out of the last fifteen possible: they have only drawn against Osasuna (1-1) and has lost to Atlético de Madrid (2-1), Rayo Vallecano (0-1), Real Madrid (4-0) and Alavés (2-1).
There is absolutely nothing at stake beyond recovering credit, good feelings and climbing a position. The mathematical permanence is consolidated and the duel, which was scheduled for Sunday, was brought forward to Saturday because neither Espanyol nor Valencia have options to aspire to more.
On a strictly sporting level, no revolutions are expected after the departure of the club until now coach, Vicente Moreno. Espanyol’s approach against Valencia, except for surprise, will maintain a continuous line, without shrillness or surprising tactical bets.
Recent precedents between both teams at the RCDE Stadium present a favorable scenario for Valencia. In the last five visits by the Valencian squad, they have won three times and lost twice. The results of the commitments are usually adjusted, without excessive goals.
The Valencian team has the mission of improving the image it is giving in this final stretch of a League that is looking forward to it being over as soon as possible and that it won’t do it with a good taste in your mouth.
The technician José Bordalás risked with rotations in the two days prior to the final of the Copa del Rey that he played against Betis and it went wrong since he fell to Osasuna and Villarreal.
Those two setbacks were added to two previous draws already the painful defeat on penalties in La Cartuja to leave the team with no real chance of qualifying for European competitions through either of the two routes open to it.
With that disappointment, Valencia have not known how to win after that match in Seville either but, while their image was acceptable in the match against Levante and good in the draw against Athleticon Tuesday he was disarmed in the final stretch of the match against Betis in Mestalla (0-3).
In addition, in the press conference after that meeting, the distance between Bordalás and the club boarda gap that seemed to be closing but has reopened.
In this meeting they could reappear after their sanctions José Luis Gayà and Hugo Guillamón and in principleBordalás has its entire squad available so you can choose the eleven you want.
Gonçalo Guedes, Hugo Duro and Gabriel Bautista have discomfort and it will not be forced in any of the three cases and less so in that of the Portuguese player because, as Bordalás admitted, there is a clause that if he plays more than 45 minutes in any of the remaining games or if he had done so in both previous, Valencia will have to pay five million more to PSG, his club of origin.
It remains to be seen if Bordalás faces the clash with the idea of getting the best eleven possible, of protecting the players who have played the most, of giving options to others who may be important next year or to put in the window to possible sales.
– Likely lineups:
Spanish: Diego Lopez; Miguelón, Calero, Cabrera, Dídac; Melendo, Darder, David López, Vilhena, Puado; Raul de Tomas.
Valencia: Mamardashvili; Correia, Paulista, Diakhaby, Alderete, Gayà; Musah, Guillamon, Bryan Gil; Hard, Maxi Gomez.
Referee: Muñiz Ruiz (Galician Committee).
Stadium: RCDE Stadium.
Time: 18:30.