Sporting de Gijon vs Valencia preview - Emery expecting tricky encounter

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by PA

Valencia coach Unai Emery is bracing his team for a tough match on Saturday even though opponents Sporting Gijon find themselves six points and 17 places behind Los Che after the first two rounds of fixtures.

While second-placed Valencia are one of only three teams still boasting a 100% record, Sporting go into this weekend's matches in the bottom two of the standings having suffered 2-1 defeats to Real Sociedad and Osasuna.

Nevertheless, Emery is not expecting it to be easy at El Molinon, saying: "Saturday's game is difficult, we have started the league well, six points from six, but we're going to a team who have zero points and who against us have good games.

"Sporting need to play at their best because they haven't won any points. We need to have a lot of personality.

"We are optimistic realists, the game is important for the path we want to take in the league."

Emery also preferred not to dwell on his side's disappointing goalless Champions League draw with Group E outsiders Genk on Tuesday - or speak about upcoming matches.

After taking on Sporting, Valencia face a testing run of fixtures with successive games against Barcelona, Sevilla and Chelsea.

He said at a press conference: "All our energy is focused on Saturday. We are going to talk about the present, of the Valencia of today and of tomorrow."

Sporting have had a poor start to the season but striker David Barral believes the clash with high-flying Valencia is the perfect opportunity to put that behind them.

"It's a good opponent against whom to change our bad form and show that we are a good team," said Barral, who has netted three goals in four meetings against Valencia.

However, Barral does concede his side need to keep a close eye on Valencia striker Roberto Soldado, who has struck four goals already this season and 16 in his last 12 matches.

"He is in very good form and is a good striker who we will need to pay a lot of attention to. He is very dangerous," Barral said.