Valencia will be without six players and could also lose three more to injury when they host Barcelona at Mestalla on Sunday, deepening the concern around a team that has taken only one point from its opening three La Liga matches.
Carlos Corberan’s side have endured a difficult start to the campaign, losing to Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis before drawing with Celta Vigo. The results leave Valencia with one point from a possible nine, and another defeat against the reigning champions could see them take just one point from their first four games.
Barcelona arrive in strong form after winning each of their first three league matches. Their visit therefore presents an especially demanding challenge for Valencia, whose squad is already being stretched by a lengthy injury list.
According to Sport, Valencia are certain to be without six members of the first-team group. Corberan cannot rely on Copete, who is suffering from a meniscus injury, or Umar Sadiq, who has sustained a hamstring tear.
Sergi Canos is also unavailable after suffering a cruciate ligament tear, while Justin de Haas is recovering from a sprain to his right ankle. Guido Rodriguez has a quadriceps injury, and Diego Lopez faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of another cruciate ligament tear.
The situation could become even more difficult before kick-off, with three other players still doubts for the fixture. Their potential absences could force Corberan to make further changes to the starting line-up he would normally prefer to use.
Dimitri Foulquier is considered unlikely to return after his period out of action. Luis Rioja is troubled by pain in his quadriceps, while Kain van Ovelin has an ankle problem. All three could miss out on selection for the matchday squad.
Valencia’s start has already raised concerns among supporters, with the side unable to turn its early performances into victories. The prospect of facing Barcelona while missing several established players adds another layer of difficulty to a fixture that was already expected to test the hosts.
Barcelona are the defending champions for the past two seasons and have begun the new campaign with three convincing victories. Valencia must therefore attempt to halt that winning run while dealing with the absence of six confirmed casualties and uncertainty over three further players.
The match will be played at Mestalla on Sunday in the fourth round of La Liga. Fans can discuss the issues and news in greater depth on Kooora forums.
