Carlos Corberán shapes Valencia XI amid scarcity for LaLiga opener | OneFootball

Four defeats in eight friendlies have left Valencia edgy before LaLiga, so Carlos Corberán is shaping a near-fixed XI for Celta de Vigo at Mestalla on Saturday 22 August.

According to Superdeporte, he lacks dependable professionals across the pitch, and right-back could hinge on Arnau Martínez joining from Girona in time.

Recent friendlies underlined the gap between first and second units, and several starters face little competition until additions arrive in goal, centre-back, the wings or attack.

Valencia’s attacking thread runs through Javi Guerra and Ryunosuke Sato, with Guido Rodríguez balancing midfield. Stole Dimitrievski is undisputed, while a second goalkeeper is sought, with Ipswich Town’s young Dutchman Kayne Oevelen preferred by the coach and Gourlay.

With few wingers and Luis Rioja injured, Corberán has leaned on a back three with wing-backs. Jesús Vázquez, in strong form, is pushing captain José Gayà and could also cover the right.

Options are sparse, with Aliou Dieng among the few. Academy players Rodrigo Gamón, Panach, David Otorbi, Jaume Durà and Aimar Blázquez look the most likely to relieve starters.

If five at the back persists, the projected XI is Dimitrievski, then Jesús Vázquez or Gamón, Tárrega, Pepelu, De Haas and Gayà. Ahead, Guido Rodríguez behind Filip Ugrinic, Javi Guerra and Sato, provided his paperwork enables LaLiga registration. Hugo Duro leads the line, though the number nine remains unsettled, with Umar Sadiq an option if he recovers from a muscle injury and, to a lesser extent, Arnaut Danjuma.

Source: Superdeporte

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”