ESPANYOL v VALENCIA TICKETS, Sunday, November 5, 2006: Reclaiming lost ground

You could probably not receive very good odds on this encounter being a draw with an online bookie, betfair.com for instance, as Espanyol have earned one point from each of their last four league outings. Having lost three of their first four games this season, that may actually appear to be an improvement.
Performance-wise, Ernesto Valverde’s team have been a bit hit-and-miss as they garnered an impressive goalless draw at Villarreal two weeks ago, thanks to someoutstanding goalkeeping by Carlos Kameni, before having to claw back twice to earn a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Racing a fortnight ago.
Last weekend the goalless encounter at Levante was largely forgettable, but it is still another point on the board away from home and now the team just has to start winning in their own stadium to move away from the danger zone.
The stories regarding player power within the dressing room may have died down in the media, but it was clearly evident that Ivan De la Pena, one of the squad members said to have an influential voice, was clearly unhapy at being substituted on Sunday.
It is a good sign that Valverde is willing to challenge the order and ensur that there are no cliques or pseudo-leaders within the ranks as he looks
to stter the club away from trouble.
This weekend represents, arguably, the team’s toughest challenge of the season so far. Valencia started the campaign with a bang and were unbeaten in their opening five league games, but an incredible injury list has affected their form and in their last encounter they were beaten at Racing.
Without David Albelda, Carlos Marchena, Asier Del Horno and Ruben Baraja, among others, los Che have stumbled slightly and fallen away from the top two spaces.
This encounter represents a chance for both sides to prove something.
While Valencia will want to chalk up a morale-boosting victory, Espanyol will view a win as a kickstart to their season.