The timing of the international break can often impact a club in either a positive or negative way. For Valencia, it is hard to decide which side the balance of the scales have swung this time around. The team have started with the proverbial “hat-trick” of results, a win, a loss and a draw in their first three games. The stalemate in the first game with Real Sociedad at the Mestalla seemed like a good point at the time. However, the Basque side have only secured one more point since that in their next two games. So, it may look more like two points lost more than one gained as the season maps out.

The loss in Pamplona in Valencia’s first away game to Osasuna mirrored all the regular failings on the road last season, notably single goal defeats in which they had strong chances to take points, and would have, with more clinical finishing and more concentrated defending. The thumping of Getafe, who were lying top of the table at the time, highlighted the team’s potential and saw an instant impact from two of the new signings Arnaut Danjuma and Largie Ramazani. Danjuma scored a delightful goal, racing from the halfway line to latch onto a great ball from Javi Guerra, before cutting inside the defender and curling his shot inside the keeper’s left hand post. Ramazani then entered the field of play with only three minutes remaining and before full time the little Belgium winger had outpaced the Getafe left back down the right wing to put in a low cross for Hugo Duro to finish off from close range.

On a high after such a superb performance the stoppage in league matches for international games looked on paper to be an untimely interruption, as the side looked to be finding a sense of rhythm and some form.

Also, Valencia had less players on duty for their country than in previous years, and had additional opportunities for niggling injuries to heal. It also gave them time in training to get their new recruits more familiar with Corberán’s style and work on set pieces with their new signing Lucas Beltrán.

The Argentinian centre forward, nicknamed the Viking because of his strong blond hair, comes on a year’s loan from Fiorentina and with a strong reputation. He represented his country at the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

Turning to the fixture list and the next La Liga game is Barcelona away. The last time this contest took place in the Catalan capital Los Che got severely embarrassed and lost 7-1.

However, the majority of the Barça players have had games the last two weeks in important matches for their countries, and numerous have had long travel distances to address. Regular first teamers like Ter Stegen, Frenkie De Jong, Balde and Gavi are struggling with serious injuries and are unlikely to take part in the game. Levante UD frightened the life out of Barcelona recently in game two before the league champions came back from two goals down to claim victory in a five goal thriller. Then followed a tame draw with Rayo Vallecano with Fran Pérez equalising for Los Franjirrojos after Yamal’s converted penalty had given Barcelona the lead.

Another headache for the hosts is the venue. Despite assurances the Nou Camp would be up and running for the start of the new campaign it is still not ready, and this particular weekend the Olympic Stadium at Montjuïc is unavailable due to being booked for a concert by the American rapper Post Malone.

As a consequence, the match will take place in the Estadi Johan Cruyff. The ground, in the neighbourhood of Sant Joan Despi is primarily used by the Barcelona B team, as well as their Under 19 side, and for Liga F matches with the Barcelona ladies team.

With a capacity of only 6,000, all season ticket holders entered a lottery in the hope of getting lucky to attend the game. A less than normal hostile environment will face Valencia, and hopefully that will be a telling factor as the visitors look to eke out a result.

In other news, Jaume Doménech announced his retirement from football this week at the age of 34. The Almenara-born goalkeeper spent over a decade with the club. Despite playing only 120 games for the club, he was an integral part of the dressing room. He was very much a fans’ favourite… not least because of the loyalty he showed to the Valencia cause.

The Ladies team have made a winning start after last season’s relegation as they look to immediately return to the top flight. They beat CE Europa 3-2 in their only league game to date, coming back from 2-0 down to complete the turnaround in the second minute of injury time, when Sara Tamarit converted the winner for Los Che. A few days later, the team travelled to Alicante to play Elche in the Copa Del Reina and came away victors 2-0 to advance to the next round.

Levante’s recent trip to Alicante in La Liga seemed to be an ideal opportunity for Julián Calero’s men to get their first points of the season. The match did not go to plan for the visitors who succumbed to Elche for their third loss of the season. Currently, they are one of two clubs remaining pointless. (Girona being the other)

In contrast, Levante women did get a point in their first home game of the season against Alhama CF, but a loss to Granada at home does not bode well, especially as their next two games are away to Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad respectively.

Finally, Manchester City, Juventus and FC Copehagen will be playing in La Comunidad Valenciana in the near future. The three teams will visit Villarreal as part of the Champion League group stages. The Italian side visit on the first day of October, and then Pep Guardiola’s team head to the Estadio Ceramica later that month on the 21^st. The Danish outfit come to Spain on the tenth of December.

Report by John Howden

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

Valencia CF

FC Barcelona v Valencia CF 14 Sept. 21.00 hrs

Valencia CF v Athletic Bilbao 20 Sept 21.00 hrs

Espanyol v Valencia CF 23 Sept 19.00 hrs

Valencia CF v Oviedo 4 Oct 16.15

Levante UD

Levante UD v Real Betis 14 Sept. 16.15 hrs

Girona v Levante UD 20 Sept 14.00 hrs

Levante UD v Real Madrid 23 Sept 21.30 hrs

Real Oviedo v Levante UD 4 Oct 14.00 hrs