Valencia vs Malaga preview

August 28, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Valencia vs Malaga 1-0Heavily reinforced Valencia started the season well as they brought one point from Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and they will feel the time has come for the first triumph.

Meanwhile, Malaga enjoyed a somewhat fortunate victory over Athletic Bilbao, but los Boquerones will, nonetheless, be feeling confident ahead of the clash at Mestalla.

Even if Peter Lim has yet to complete the club takeover, he has already used his contacts and influence to lure some high-quality players to Valencia.

With Enzo Perez expected to follow in the footsteps of Rodrigo Moreno and Andre Gomes, it is the former Benfica trio that should have a key role to play this season.

Considering that Nicolas Otamendi is back at Mestalla and few more quality players have arrived, los Che have big ambitions for the new season.

New boss Nuno Espirito Santo wasn’t able to field his strongest line-up in the curtain-raiser against Sevilla, but his youthful side did well to earn a 1-1 draw, with summer signing Lucas Orban scoring the equalizer late on.

Given that several important players should return for the Malaga game, los Che have been made 1.60 (3/5) favourites to claim maximum points.

Rodrigo Moreno is unlikely to feature after suffering a thigh injury, but Shkodran Mustafi is back from suspension. Rodrigo de Paul starts a four-match ban, while Sofiane Feghouli should be recalled.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Alves – Barragan, Otamendi, Mustafi, Gaya – Fuego, Parejo – Feghouli, Gomes, Piatti – Alcacer.

Last season was not that successful for Malaga, even if the club eventually managed to avoid relegation to Segunda, finishing the campaign six points above the bottom three.

Los Boquerones then puled off quite a coup by signing World Cup star Guillermo Ochoa, while the likes of Arthur Boka, Roberto Rosales, Luis Alberto and Miguel Torres also arrived.

Meanwhile, several important players left La Rosaleda, which is enough to suggest another difficult season may be on the cards.

Malaga somehow managed to defeat Athletic Bilbao in their opening league fixture, but only after the visitors were denied a clear goal and a penalty in the dying moments of the match.

Another smile from Lady Luck may be needed if they are to get anything from Mestalla, with draw paying 4.20 (16/5) at BetVictor.

Duda and Antunes are suspended after seeing red last weekend, whilst Fernando Tissone remains on the sidelines through a knee injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Ochoa – Rosales, Sanchez, Weligton, Boka – Darder, Camacho – Horta, Alberto, Juanmi – Santa Cruz.

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