Valencia travel to Atletico Madrid trying to overcome on and off-the-field problems in the Spanish league this weekend.
Valencia have collected just two points from their last six matches and have not won a league game in two months. They have 27 points and trail leaders Real Madrid by 17.
FC Barcelona are seven points behind Madrid in second place with 37 points, followed by Espanyol with 36 and Atletico Madrid with 34.
After dropping veterans Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo, Valencia coach Ronald Koeman loaned Manuel Fernandes, who was signed in the offseason for 18 million euros (US$26.4 million), to Everton on Thursday. Nicolas Zigic, also signed in the offseason, has been linked with a move to second-division side Real Sociedad as Koeman looks to mold Valencia's squad into his own.
There have been more off-field problems at Valencia. Ever Banega, who signed from Boca Juniors last Saturday in a deal worth 18 million euros, is reputed to be nude in a video on the Internet.
Banega trained with the team before the 2-1 Copa del Rey win over Real Betis on Wednesday. He could provide a boost if he makes his debut at the Vicente Calderon stadium tomorrow.
"That was the first match we played at a higher level," said Koeman, whose only league win since arriving was over Betis. "The best medicine is to win games, taking four or five matches without a loss would be the best way forward."
By contrast, Atletico are free from controversy and, after a 3-0 rout of Deportivo La Coruna last week, are in the final Champions league spot of fourth place.
Fullback Yiourkas Seitaridis and midfielder Thiago Motta are still injured, but could return for Atletico's local derby against Real Madrid next week. With Portugal midfielder Maniche reportedly set to be loaned to Inter Milan, Motta's recovery will determine whether Atletico look to the transfer window with the club also featuring in the league and UEFA Cups.
"The team is entering a very important stage. Were playing for a lot in a little amount of time," coach Javier Aguirre said.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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