MADRID, 7 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Athletic Club, somewhat downcast after their last defeat, receives this Tuesday (8:00 p.m.) a lively Real Valladolid boosted by the positive dynamics of results and with their improved goalscoring version, while a cheerful Girona, with only one game lost from the last five, visit to a sunken Elche, in a deep depression, and without Jorge Almirón on the bench, both games corresponding to matchday 14 of LaLiga Santander.
The Bilbao team comes to this day after the unexpected braking against Girona (2-1) in Montilivi, a defeat that turned the important victory against Villarreal into a mirage. That negative result recovers the ghosts and uncertainty of Valverde’s men, who have only celebrated one victory in the last six games.
Thus, a victory under the embrace of San Mamés, where they have only lost to Atlético and Espanyol so far this season, would allow them to forget their doubts and the irregularity of this last month, and give themselves a break before the break due to the World. In addition, seventh with 21 points, winning the duel would put them momentarily in European positions, now only two units away.
Valverde, who will direct the 750th game of his career this Tuesday, pointed out the lack of vertigo and speed with the ball as one of the main reasons why the team has a hard time starting. A lot of possession and agglomeration of players in the central zone, something that does not seem to favor players like the Williams brothers, with their speed and verticality as qualities.
Opposite will be a Valladolid come to more in the last month, making the most of their chances, with lethal effectiveness. His last victim was the depressive Elche (2-1), in the fourth win of the last seven games. A rush before the break that has allowed them to settle in the quiet zone of the table, with the option, even, of getting hooked on the fight for Conference positions -now six points away-, thanks to their 17 units.
If the relevant Muniain, Ander Herrera and Dani García would be in the losing part of the ‘lions’, Malsa, Escudero, Javi Sánchez, Kenedy, Anuar and Luis Pérez will not travel to San Mamés in Valladolid. Some absences that Pacheta hopes will not affect the high intensity that Athletic usually prints at home. “It’s a very aggressive team, very complete, fast, strong, many virtues”, said the blanquivioleta coach in the previous one, before the opportunity to win in San Mamés for the first time since 2004.
Also this Tuesday (7:00 p.m.), Girona and its good moment of play and results face the process against a sunken Elche. The Catalan team seems to have found the model that can give them the most solutions and happiness this season. With an electric combination game as well as precise, the Catalans achieved a surprising and meritorious victory (2-1) against Athletic, to end a streak of seven days without winning.
Those three points will give a boost to a Girona team that has already played a good role at the Santiago Bernabéu with a hard-fought draw (1-1) -the second team to score at the Whites’ fiefdom this season-, but still hasn’t won as a visitor. “We’re playing just as well but now we’re more compact,” said Míchel, who will be without Reinier, Couto, Juanpe and Samu Saiz.
This first victory for Girona away from home could come against an Elche that is still in free fall, without finding the perfect medicine for its depression. His injury has already lasted for 13 days without victory, and neither could the Argentine Jorge Almirón, dismissed this Monday after five games in charge. Thus, the technical secretary Sergio Mantecón will direct the franjiverde team.
With only four points out of a possible 39, the people from Elche must react quickly if they want to see permanence as a realistic objective, when they are bottom seven units from the objective. Without an identity and with a commitment that does not seem enough, the squad, very emotionally affected, will seek to go to the break with the first and long-awaited victory of the course to give the fans a joy before the break. Against a Girona team that has never won at the Martínez Valero.
-Tuesday, November 8.
Elche-Girona. González Fuertes (C. Asturiano) 19.00.
Athletic-Valladolid. Diaz de Mera Escuderos (C.C-Manch) 8:00 p.m.
Osasuna – FC Barcelona. Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño) 21.30.
-Wednesday 9.
Seville – Royal Society. From Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño) 19.00.
Almeria – Getafe. Muñiz Ruiz (C. Gallego) 19.00.
Espanyol-Villarreal. Villanueva Churches (C. Gallego) 20.00.
Mallorca – Atletico de Madrid. Melero Lopez (C. Andalusia)2
-Thursday 10.
Rayo Vallecano – RC Celta. Munuera Montero (C. Andalusia) 19.00.
Valencia-Real Betis. Ortiz Arias (C. Madrid) 20.00.
Real Madrid – Cadiz. Soto Grado (C. Riojano) 21.30.
