Valencia V Manchester United
Wednesday, 29th September – 19:45 GMT
UEFA Champions League: Group C
UEFA Champions League: Group C
Valencia Form (La Liga): WWWDW
Form at Home: WD (1-1-0)
Goals Scored/Against: 9-3
Goals Scored in First Half: 6/9
Manchester United Form (Premier League): DWDWD
Away Form: DDD
Goals Scored/Against: 16-9 (Away: 7-7)
Goals Conceded in First Half: 2/9 (Away: 2)
A depleted Manchester United team heads to Spain on Wednesday as they aim to get their UEFA Champions League campaign back on track following their Match Day 1 stalemate with Rangers. A point would be a decent return for the Red Devils but Los Che have other ideas, atop of the Spanish La Liga standings and brimming with confidence after a blistering start to the season which has seen them drop points just once thus far, and that does include Europe, as Valencia brushed their Match Day 1 opponents Buraspor aside winning 4-0 in Bursa.
As if they need it, Valencia were handed several boosts ahead of their crunch encounter with the Red Devils with news that several of Manchester United’s star won’t even travel to Spain. Ryan Giggs, a veteran but a player still with a trick or two in his locker, will miss the game with a hamstring injury. Paul Scholes and Gary Neville appear to be subject to some recuperation time, as no news on injuries has been made apparent just yet as to why they weren’t included in the squad, while the star attraction in the United camp, Wayne Rooney, will also miss the trip through injury leaving United short of players and thin on match winners. In fact, you could argue that just two players remain in the United camp capable of actually posing a threat to the hosts, with Nani a nuisance on his day but possibly vulnerable to cowering away in such a hostile and atmospheric venue, while Dimitar Berbatov has tonnes of class, has even started the season in clinical fashion – scoring six goals in six league games – but needs a hard-working but ingenius set up around him, which he won’t necessarily have tomorrow.
On the positive side of things for the Premier League’s most coveted team, their midfield will at least pack some stability. Anderson is likely to return to sure up the core of the team, while Michael Carrick is also in contention to partner Darren Fletcher in the middle of the park, an always willing worker. All three could actually start in a five-man strong midfield but while solidity is second to none, there’s a distinct lack of creativity which, should the visitors fall behind, could see them struggle to create openings.
So, there’s a great deal riding on United’s hard-hitting midfield doing its job at the Mestalla, while the defence will also need to be in tip-top shape and at their concentrational best. Rio Ferdinand hasn’t played a great deal of football against noteworthy opponents this season but could replace Jonny Evans at centre-half – a bold move if you ask me considering Ferdinand has looked off the pace in recent outings- while Evra and John O’Shea are in for one tough and testing game out at full-back, with Valencia nifty down the flanks.
For Valencia; well, their sublime start to the season speaks volumes. At least it should, although bookies clearly don’t see the same image as me. Despite their almost flawless start to the season, their bulldozing of Buraspor in their Group C opener and the fact United have several key figures missing, Valencia are only just edging favouritism at a ground where they haven’t lost a European encounter in eleven games. All this makes their odds of 2.70 with BetFred and Ladbrokes seem like a too good to be true gift… where exactly is the catch?
Los Che haven’t yet been tested as such, while the first time they were presented with a testing opponent they did falter in worrying fashion. Emery’s side could only conjure a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla a week ago, even requiring a late strike from summer signing Adruiz to spare their blushes. Even so, there’s enough going for the hosts to make their current price a spot of value, while the fact they’ve been bright starters – Scoring six of their nine league goals in the first half, while two of their four away to Buraspor also came within the first period – has also alerted us to some attractive early market punts as well. Either way, we’re all over Valencia like Rooney to a brothel.
Matt’s Selections:
Valencia to WIN – 2.70 with BetFred & Ladbrokes
Early Bird Picks:
Valencia to be Winning at Half-Time – 3.50 totesport
Valencia HT/FT – 5.00 BetFred
Valencia to Score First Goal – 2.10 Ladbrokes
