High-flying Valencia will go into this encounter knowing they have the chance to top the La Liga table with a win against a demoralised Athletic side. The hosts sit just one point behind current leaders Real Madrid but could end the weekend as low as fifth in the table if other results go against them, while Athletic will look to bounce back from their Champions League exit by climbing into the top half of the table.
Paco Alcacer's goalscoring form has slowed down in recent weeks and he still sits on four league strikes so far this season, but the Valencia forward has reassured fans that he sees his future at Mestalla. “I’m from Valencia and I want to stay here,” he replied during a supporters' club event. On-loan Manchester City man Alvaro Negredo was a late substitute in the 3-1 win at Villarreal last week, and he could be in line to partner Alcacer up front if he proves his fitness. Dani Parejo is unavailable for the hosts through injury.
Meanwhile, Germany international defender and LFP Team of the Month member Shkodran Mustafi has praised the role played in Valencia's early season form by the club's fanbase, and he hopes it will continue long into the future. “It [their away support] is really surprising. In Italy you don’t normally see away supporters at games. I was shocked to see 3000 fans coming to cheer us on. The support of the fans will be important for us all season.” Talking about his recent goalscoring form, the 22-year-old added, “I try to give my all in every game, and if I score, then all the better.”
Valencia's main cause for optimism aside from their own form will be the disappointment suffered by opponents Athletic in midweek. A 2-0 loss against Porto put an end to the Basque side's Champions League hopes, and manager Erneste Valverde has admitted that his side was outclassed by the Portuguese giants. "Porto were very strong and showed they are a great team," he said. "They demonstrated that they were better than us. We have to acknowledge that they were better, although in the second half we were closer to them."
However, he will hope that his side has the mental strength to bounce back from such a disappointment and, as the saying goes, concentrate on the league. “We are encouraging the players in the dressing room because this has been a big blow,” he continued. Having brought the club's nine-game winless run to an end last weekend, Valverde wants to take the opportunity to build momentum: “Let’s take this opportunity to continue adding points and build a winning streak, as before there was negativity at the club.”
This match will be an evening kickoff at the end of the weekend, at 18:00 local time on Sunday evening. Referee Carlos Del Cerro will officiate the game, having given out twelve cards in his last two games including a red for Elche striker Jonathas. We'll have coverage of all the weekend's action from across Europe, so stay tuned right here on VAVEL.