Valencia sweat on Luis Rioja fitness ahead of Barcelona at Mestalla | OneFootball

According to Superdeporte, Valencia held their penultimate session on Friday before hosting LaLiga leaders Barcelona at Mestalla on Sunday at 16:30 in matchday four. The key doubt is Luis Rioja, who will be assessed on Saturday after further ankle trouble.

The left winger trained apart again and has now missed three days with the group. He started in A Coruña in the 3-1 loss to Deportivo, then was replaced on the hour by David Otorbi.

New signing Harvey Elliott, on loan from Liverpool with no option to buy, completed his second session with the squad. He is considered ready to start accumulating minutes while building fitness in the coming days and weeks.

If Rioja is not available, the likeliest solution would be Pablo Maffeo returning to the starting side on the right, particularly if Carlos Corberán sticks with a back three and adventurous wing-backs.

Maffeo and Dimitri Foulquier trained with the group on Friday, Maffeo for a second straight day. Foulquier is still short of full match fitness after months out, with recent sessions and call-ups, including A Coruña, part of his final recovery steps.

Goalkeeper Kayne Van Oevelen completed only the first part of the session with the other keepers. The Dutchman, who has a minor ankle sprain, later worked on the side with physios.

Confirmed absentees are Guido Rodríguez, Copete, Sadiq, Diego López and Justin de Haas. Rioja and Van Oevelen remain under observation until Saturday.

Source: Superdeporte

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