PREVIEW: "Reborn" Valencia keen to stay number one in Spain

By Duncan Shaw Oct 2, 2008, 8:08 GMT

Madrid - Revitalized Valencia are keen to stay on top of the Spanish Liga - by winning away to modest Valladolid on Sunday.

Unai Emey's new-look Valencia are completely different from the fractious, chaotic side that finished 10th last season under Ronald Koeman.

Where once there was division, disorder and frustration, there is now unity, coherence and satisfaction.

Spain winger Joaquin Sanchez - one of the many 'Che' players to get on badly with Koeman - said on Tuesday that 'now we have a real coach...that is why we have been reborn as a team.'

Emery, just 36, has worked round the clock to restore peace in a dressing-room that was blighted by civil war last season. His hard-working team has 13 points from five games, the same quantity as local rivals Villarreal, who have an inferior goal difference.

On Thursday Emery will surely rest key men like David Villa, David Albelda, Juan Mata and Joaquin for the UEFA Cup clash at home to Portuguese side Maritimo.

Villarreal kick off the sixth round of matches on Saturday at home to lowly Betis.

The troubled Seville side have made a poor start and are now third from bottom, with just three points.

Villarreal, in contrast, are in good heart after Tuesday's hard-fought 1-0 defeat of Glasgow Celtic.

The other game scheduled for Saturday is the Barcelona-Atletico Madrid clash, featuring two sides who enjoyed a lovely night out on Wednesday.

Atletico beat Olympique Marseille 2-1, Barca downed Shaktar Donetsk by the same score - thanks to two late goals from scintillating supersub Lionel Messi.

The Argentine starlet will surely start the match on Saturday, which could be bad news for an Atletico defence already plagued by injury.

Barca are fifth with 10 points, Atletico are seventh with nine.

The big game on Sunday, in addition to the Valladolid-Valencia clash, sees champions Real Madrid at home to schizophrenic Espanyol.

Espanyol started the season like a house on fire, but have picked up just one point in their last three games, slumping to 10th in the process.

Real will again be without midfielders Fernando Gago, Wesley Sneijder and Guti, as well as suspended left-back Marcelo.

Sunday's other games are as follows: Recreativo Huelva-Malaga, Getafe-Almeria, Sevilla-Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca-Sporting Gijon, Osasuna-Racing Santander and Deportivo Coruna-Numancia.