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Opposition lowdown: Valencia
The last away trip of the season takes RCD Espanyol to the Mestalla on Sunday
RCD Espanyol are on the road for the final time this season at Valencia CF on Sunday.
Two matches remain in the fight for survival as Espanyol go down to the Camp de Mestalla in a relegation six-pointer. Valencia are not yet safe and need the three points just as much as Luis García’s men do, backed by hundreds of travelling pericos in a huge match at the bottom of the table.
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Name: Valencia CF
Nickname: Los che
Manager: Rubén Baraja
Stadium: Camp de Mestalla– 49,430 capacity
Last match: L 0-1 vs Mallorca
Current position: 13th
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The season so far
Valencia have been battling relegation all season, and despite a mid-season managerial change, they find themselves two points from the drop with two to go. Though they are in the best mathematical position of the seven teams at risk of relegation, Rubén Baraja’s side are still in the battle for survival going into Sunday’s clash.
Standout player
A captain leads by example in the good and bad, and José Luis Gayà has done exactly that. The full-back remains one of Valencia’s best players and has been key in keeping the team together this season, doing so while earning back his spot in the Spanish national team in March.
Last time at the RCDE Stadium
Espanyol and Valencia played out an enthralling 2-2 draw in their last encounter this season, with all four goals coming in the second half. Joselu’s equaliser three minutes after the visitors opened the scoring set it up for captain Sergi Darder to turn it around for the Mágico, before Valencia salvaged a point in stoppage time.
Club links
After bouncing around Spain at the start of his career, Javi Fuego joined Valencia in 2013 and went on to make 100 appearances. The central midfielder then moved up the coast to the RCDE Stadium where he spent two years in the blanquiazul shirt.