MADRID, 5 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia will face an important game this Friday at home against the needy Cádiz so as not to lose the wake of the train to Europe, while bottom club Elche will play it against a direct rival like Celta, in the matches that open the sixteenth day of LaLiga Santander 2022-2023.
In Mestalla (9:00 p.m.), Valencia will try to recover from the last-gasp defeat against Villarreal, which left them six points behind sixth place, and score three important points in front of their fans against a Cádiz team that is one of the worst visitors of the championship.
The ‘che’ team knows that it must start to become strong at Mestalla, where it was not as solid as it needed before the break, with three defeats to its credit (Atlético, FC Barcelona and Mallorca), but where it is having the most offensive brilliance with 15 of his 23 total goals.
The last clash at home was almost two months ago and they clearly overcame it against a rival from above like Betis (3-0) and now, after passing without problems to the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey, they hope to get rid of the Cadista team to reach encouraged to fight for the Spanish Super Cup next week.
Gennaro Gattuso, who only has the loss of midfielder Nico González, rotated a lot in the cup duel against La Nucía (0-3) and from that eleven it is most likely that only Hugo Guillamón and goalkeeper Mamardashvili will remain.
For its part, Cádiz goes to Mestalla in search of scratching something positive that will help it in its attempt to get out of the bottom. Although they have only won once in the league in the Valencian stronghold, a long time ago, in the 88-89 season, their last two visits have resulted in draws.
The team from Cádiz, penultimate with twelve points, knows that a victory will allow them to sleep out of relegation, but that is precisely what is costing them the most this season, with only two in their locker. Last week he was unable to play a direct duel with Almería and remained down in what was the last game of striker Lucas Pérez, who has set course for Deportivo de La Coruña and further diminishes the little offensive power of Sergio González.
Now, that responsibility will fall on Negredo, Lozano and Sobrino, who will fight for the two attacking places in an eleven to which Alejo should return, sanctioned last weekend and from which the center-back Momo will continue to be absent.
ELCHE NEEDS TO PREMIERE
On the other hand, the football Three Kings Day will open at the Estadio Martínez Valero (6:30 p.m.) where bottom club Elche is forced to open their victory box against a direct rival like Celta, who need the points to avoid seeing themselves in more trouble.
The Elche team still hasn’t won in the league after their defeat at the Cívitas Metropolitano and the Copa del Rey also turned its back on them in Ceuta, where Pablo Machín preferred to reserve pieces for a duel that seems key since the team that currently scores is being measured salvation and that is nine points away.
In addition, victory would be key for next week’s visit to Nuevo Mirandilla, two matches that will mark the future of an Elche that needs Lucas Boyé’s goals more than ever. Machín recovers Pol Lirola and Gumbau, but loses Gonzalo Verdú due to suspension.
Opposite, a Celta that is not going through its best moment either and that the arrival on the bench of Carlos Carvalhal has barely revived it. The team from Vigo has not known a league victory for three months and also arrives at Martínez Valero after also being eliminated in the Copa del Rey, in his case against a Primera team like Espanyol.
The sky-blue team cannot boast of being a dangerous rival at home either, since, of their seven outings, they have only scored four points, with one victory (Montilivi), and they have only scored four goals. In addition, in defense he continues to have many problems and only in two games has he been able to leave a clean sheet. The Portuguese coach seems to recover his eleven from the draw against Sevilla after the cup rotations.
–SCHEDULE FOR MATCHDAY 16 OF LALIGA SANTANDER.
-Friday the 6th.
Elche-Celtic. Ortiz Arias (C.Madrileño) 18.30.
Valencia-Cádiz. González Fuertes (C.Asturiano) 21.00.
-Saturday 7.
Villarreal-Real Madrid. Soto Grado (C. Riojano) 16.15.
Majorca-Valladolid. Pizarro Gómez (C.Madrileño) 18.30.
Spanish-Girona From Cerro Grande (C.Madrileño) 21.00.
-Domingo 8.
Almería-Real Sociedad. Alberola Rojas (C. Cast-manchego) 14.00.
Vallecano Lightning-Betis. Diaz de Mera Escuderos (C.Cast-manchego)
Seville-Getafe. Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano) 18.30.
Athletic of Madrid-FC Barcelona. Munuera Montero (C. Andalusian) 21.00.
-Monday 9.
Athletic Club-Osasuna. Melero López (C.Andaluz) 21.00.