From Ezequiel Garay and Mouctar Diakhaby, to Hugo Guillamon and Omar Alderete, Gabriel Paulista has a long list of defensive partners in his 4 years at Valencia. He’s fine with it. When people think about successful modern-day centre-back pairings, a few come to mind: Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic […]
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B team, reserve team, 2nd team, the U-23’s. Whatever you call them, one thing’s for sure – they are vital breeding grounds for young players. But this concept differs in Spain and England. Today, we introduce Valencia CF Mestalla, Valencia’s reserve team, and how they fit into Spain’s professional league hierarchy.
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It is May 2000. The new millennium had barely awoken but Valencia fans were already witnessing magic unfold. On a raucous night at Mestalla, 23-year-old Miguel Angulo taught Louis van Gaal’s Barcelona a lesson in the Champions League semi-final.
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One moment Daniel Wass is repelling attacks as a right-back; the next, he charges up and becomes a right winger who bombs down the flanks. After a series of late substitutions, he finishes the match in midfield beside Carlos Soler or Uros Racic. If you ask Valencia fans what the Dane’s natural position is, you […]
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‘Tis the season of giving, and Valencia’s Christmas presents came early. Specifically, 2 goals and 3 points courtesy of Celta Vigo. Who needs Santa Claus when there’s Santi Mina?
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Andrea Esteban’s 1st ACL tear rocked her world. Then came another. And another. By the time she was forced to retire at 23 in 2019, the former Valencia CF Femenino striker had suffered 5 tears and had gone through 11 surgeries for other related injuries.
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Excited voices emanate from a nondescript public field in the northeast of urban Valencia. On a cool Thursday night in early November, the floodlights at the Camp de Futbol Beniferri shone on a group of footballers decked in Valencia’s white jerseys.
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At times, it was determined. Other times, desperate. But in a bruising encounter that featured 11 yellow cards and 1 sending off, Valencia proved that recent positive results against Villarreal and Atletico Madrid were no fluke.
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Miguel Angulo takes out his iPad and settles into his customary seat at the front of the bus. The Valencia CF Mestalla head coach’s eyes narrow in concentration while watching several clips of the day’s opponents CD Roda. Meanwhile, his players ease into a relaxed chatter behind. This was an away game to a hardy side known for their organisation and discipline. But Angulo’s team were the undefeated table-toppers – with 2 games in hand as well. Yet Los Che’s second team had nary an air of arrogance. The youngsters knew they needed grit for road trips in the Tercera Division.
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Valencia CF Femenino started – and ended the day still – in the bottom 3. But the positive vibe that Batzine felt there last Sunday was the opposite one would expect from a struggling team. And if you thought the players were cowed by the visit of powerhouses Atletico Madrid, think again.
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