The strongest winger

Chapter 311 Test
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Valencia won three of the four games after the start of the second half of the season and tied one, fully demonstrating the demeanor and strength of the half-time champion.

Since Barcelona lost to Valencia in the fourth round, they have won 1 consecutive victories so far. Counting the Champions League and the two Copa del Rey 8/[-] finals, they have achieved an amazing [-] consecutive victories, but they are still behind Valencia by seven points, ranking second in the league.

Therefore, the second round of the season between Barcelona and Valencia is particularly important, because the outcome of this game will most likely determine the championship of this season, even though the league is only two-thirds in progress at this time.

The match between the two sides happens to be after three rounds, which is half a month later on February No. 12. Valencia will face Barcelona, ​​which is currently in a terrifying state, at home. Once Valencia loses to Barcelona at home, the gap between the two sides will be shortened to four points.

Although there is still one third of the long season, it is still unknown whether Valencia can maintain a four-point advantage.

After all, Barcelona's current state is really good. Not only the main players in the frontcourt are in good condition, but even Messi, who occasionally came off the bench this season, has shown amazing talent.

Coupled with the fact that Valencia lost the game at home, this is definitely a serious blow to the morale of the team, and it will also make the players lose confidence and worry about gains and losses.

But... what if Valencia beat Barcelona at home?Then the gap between the two sides has widened to ten points, which means that Valencia double-killed the defending champion Barcelona this season, which laid a good foundation for them to compete for the championship this season!

So... At this time, "World Sports Daily" took the lead in hyping the focus of the battle after three rounds.

Because this game is very likely to be related to the honor of Barcelona throughout the season, and "World Sports News" has always been in the same spirit as Barcelona. At this time, this topic is heated up to create public opinion and keep Valencia in a state of continuous tension. At that time, it must be Barcelona who will benefit.

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"After the winter break, Valencia still maintained an amazing state. They achieved three wins and one draw in these [-] days, and continued to maintain their advantage in the standings. In the second half of the season when the competition became more and more intensive, they made a good start, but... can they continue like this? No! Because after three rounds, they will face Barcelona, ​​which has won [-] consecutive victories in all competitions, at home.

"...What reason is there for such an excellent Barcelona not to win at Mestalla? We have Ronaldinho and Eto'o who are in excellent form, and we also have stable Xavi and Deco in the midfield. We also have a talented player like Messi on the bench. No matter how you look at it, it is much better than Valencia. Therefore! The championship this season is still in the bag of Barcelona..."

Flores put the "World Sports Daily" back on his desk, and he could already smell the smoke of this focus battle after three rounds!

As mentioned in the "World Sports Daily" I just read, Barcelona has achieved an astonishing [-] consecutive victories in various competitions. Can Valencia win today?Even if it is a home game, it is estimated to be quite hanging.

You must know that they have played a [-]-[-] at the Bernabeu this season.

In perfect condition! !

Suddenly, Flores felt a sharp pain in his head.

"Forget it, this game is still nearly half a month away, let's talk about it later!" Flores rubbed his temples, as if muttering to himself.

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Barcelona first team office building.

After Rijkaard put down the "World Sports News" in his hand, he circled the word Valencia with a signature pen, and then rubbed his temple with his left hand, seemingly closing his eyes and recuperating.

actually not.

His mind kept playing with the possibility of beating Valencia.

If it weren't for the unfavorable start after the start of the season, he wouldn't be seven points behind Valencia by now, and what made him even more unacceptable was the loss to Valencia at the Nou Camp.

Later, Rijkaard wrote Aiello's name on the blank paper.

After the start of the second half of the season, Aiello has scored four goals in two league games. He is in a terrible state, and he has also won the Copa del Rey. If it weren't for the 1/8 final of the Copa del Rey in the second leg at the Mestalla Stadium the day before yesterday, he has half a foot into the quarter-finals. It is estimated that he still has a chance to start.

No matter how many goals are scored, it is a matter of course!
Ok?
"How did it make sense?" Thinking of this, Rijkaard subconsciously patted his forehead, "If you want to beat Valencia in Mestalla, this person must be strictly restrained!"

This time he challenged Valencia away and wanted to win the game. Rijkaard believes that he should do the following two points. One is to limit Aiello, and the other is to invest more troops in the midfield than Valencia. Because Aiello and David Villa can score goals one after another, the midfield support for them is essential!
Because he is a professional football coach, much more professional than those so-called 'bricks', he only believes in his own judgment!Valencia's offense can create so many opportunities this season, and a strong midfield configuration is an important factor!

These two problems are Rijkaard needs to solve at present!

Then he looked at the 05-06 La Liga schedule on the left front of his desk.

Barcelona's opponents in the next three rounds are Alaves, Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.

Except that Atletico Madrid before challenging Valencia was a bit difficult to play, the first two opponents...no threat!
This is not because Rijkaard looks down on these two opponents, but because of his confidence in the team!

Compared with Barcelona facing opponents like Atletico Madrid before the No.20 three rounds of La Liga this season, Valencia's opponents are not enough. They are the No.5 Real Betis last season, and then David Villa's former club Zaragoza and Megatron Europe's Super Deport two years ago!

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Subsequently, the two well-known newspapers "Marca" and "Aspen" from Madrid also joined the report of the game.

Among them, "Marca" used a headline biased towards Valencia on the front page "Double Kill Barcelona?" The text read: "In the fourth round of La Liga this season, Valencia once defeated Barcelona at Camp Nou, and Ai, who scored a hat-trick in that game, is still in excellent form. In the two rounds after the start of the winter break, he also showed the continuity of his amazing competitive state.

"...Barcelona's visit to Mestalla this time, I'm afraid it's more ominous than good! Although Ronaldinho and Eto'o are in excellent form at this time!! But it's still difficult for their defense to defend against the 'European Youth Footballer', because he also has a very good assistant - the newly promoted international David Villa, and there are players like Aimar, Vicente and Albelda to assist in the midfield..."

Similarly, "Aspen" is also on the side of Valencia.

As the saying goes, there is no enemy of the enemy!
Valencia, Real Madrid's rival of the century, Barcelona's enemy, is a friend of these mouthpieces, even though Valencia also beat Real Madrid this season.

"Aspen" mentioned in the eye-catching position of the "Real Madrid World" of the day: "Although Barcelona has won [-] consecutive rounds of La Liga so far, Valencia is also not weak and has also won the league. Ten consecutive victories, so this game Barcelona does not have an absolute advantage. Compared with Valencia, the latter has an advantage because this game is played at the Mestalla Stadium! They have a reason to beat all visiting teams!! Including Barcelona!!!"

"... Valencia's top scorer Ai and second scorer David Villa have maintained a very high competitive state, and at this time, can Barcelona perfectly limit these two people? Besides... Valencia's strongest point is not in the striker line, but in their midfield. Aimar, Albelda and Baraja are all super midfielders in La Liga. Ai and David Villa can score so many goals, and the three of them are indispensable!"

In this way, under the leadership of the three most influential sports newspapers in Spain, Spanish fans and fans who pay attention to Spanish football began to look forward to the focus battle between Valencia and Barcelona at home half a month later!
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Two days later, Valencia and Barcelona started the No.20 league round of the season at the same time.

At home, Barcelona beat Alaves with two goals.

And Valencia did not give up too much. They also defeated the home team Real Betis with two goals in the away game. In this game, Aiello scored twice and directly helped the team win.

A week later, Valencia ushered in the No.20 opponent in the league at home - Zaragoza. There was no suspense in this game. David Villa and Aiello each scored a goal and successfully won the game.

And Barcelona also seemed to be fighting, and also defeated Mallorca with three goals away in this round of the game, winning a [-]-game winning streak in the league!
After this round of competition, the two teams will start a new round of intensive schedule. The quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey will rekindle the battle in the middle of next week.

Valencia's opponent in the quarter-finals is still the second team, Valladolid!

As long as they don't make a second in this game, they will basically make it to the semi-finals! !
And Barcelona drew Zaragoza.

Starting from the opponent alone, Valencia obviously has an advantage.

But after seeing the schedule later, Valencia's advantage became even more obvious!

Because Barcelona still has to worry about the next game against Atletico Madrid at home, and... they also have to take into account the focus of the No.20 round of the next round.

It can be said... this is the time to test them.

Of course, the game is a test for both teams!

However, who can have the last laugh still has to wait for the test of time...

PS: It's three o'clock late, don't waste those who have recommended tickets.
(End of this chapter)