La Liga: Valladolid vs. Barcelona

Posted on | October 30, 2007 | No Comments

After a promising start to the season with an away win to Espanyol, Valladolid have gone from bad to worse. Since their opening game they have failed to pick up three points from a game, and have only managed to draw three. That leaves five defeats –including four consecutive ones- and the prospect of playing host to second placed Barcelona. The Valladolid players are clinging on to the fact that they managed to get a draw at home to leaders Real Madrid. Maybe that will serve as a base with which to mount a serious attempt at gaining something from the game, but I doubt it. They have only kept a clean sheet on the first day of the present season and have conceded nineteen goals in nine games. Not too good when you are about to receive Messi, Ronaldhino, Henry and Co.

Valladolid coach José Luis Mendilibar, who surprisingly signed an extension to his contract to keep him at the Jose Zorrilla stadium until 2009, is expected to make some changes from the two – two draw at the weekend away to Osasuna. Whether these changes will do anything to stop a Barcelona team -who aren’t playing particularly well but nevertheless keep getting the right results- remains to be seen.

Barcelona won their last match against Almeria with a lot more suffering than expected. They were clearly helped by a referee who first gave Thierry Henry his second league goal from an off side position, then invented a penalty for Leo Messi to score which keeps him as the league’s top scorer on six. It was also interesting to see Brazilian sensation Ronaldhino substituted for the umpteenth time this term with plenty of boos too. It wasn’t clear if the crowd was directing its anger to the player or coach Frank Rijkaard or both, but it does give a sign that the paying public are far from happy with the team. There is a rumor going round that AC Milan are about to make Ronaldhino an offer he can’t refuse when the winter transfer window opens and I’m pretty sure he’ll be off.

For all Barcelona’s current problems I don’t think they will have too many problems to overcome a Valladolid side who don’t have a squad to maintain their category for more than a season. I’m going for a Barcelona victory but don’t expect an historic goal fest.

Prediction: Away win (2-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Barcelona vs. Valladolid
2. La Liga: Valladolid vs. Zaragoza
3. La Liga: Sevilla vs. Valladolid
4. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Valladolid
5. La Liga: Betis vs. Barcelona

Comments