Valencia name Aliou Dieng among substitutes for Celta Vigo clash

Valencia midfielder Aliou Dieng has been named among the substitutes for the club’s Spanish league meeting with Celta Vigo at Mestalla.

The match is Valencia’s opening fixture of the Spanish league campaign after the teams’ first-round games were postponed. A number of players had been given time to rest because of their involvement in the World Cup.

Valencia manager Carlos Corberan announced his starting line-up shortly before kick-off, with Dieng not included in the XI but available from the bench for the match in front of the home supporters.

Stole Dimitrievski starts in goal, while the defence consists of Jesus Vazquez, Cesar Tarrega, Pepelu, Justin de Haas and Jose Gaya.

Filip Ugrinic, Javi Guerra and Guido Rodriguez make up the midfield, with Arnaut Danjuma and Ryunosuke Sato selected in attack.

The full Valencia line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Stole Dimitrievski

Defenders: Jesus Vazquez, Cesar Tarrega, Pepelu, Justin de Haas, Jose Gaya

Midfielders: Filip Ugrinic, Javi Guerra, Guido Rodriguez

Forwards: Arnaut Danjuma, Ryunosuke Sato

Dieng’s place on the bench means the midfielder will have to wait for an opportunity to make his first appearance of the league campaign, although he remains an option for Corberan during the game.

Valencia face Celta Vigo at Mestalla in the second round of the competition, with the fixture marking the beginning of both sides’ league schedules after the postponement affecting the opening round.

The delay was linked to the decision to allow several players to rest after their participation in the World Cup. As a result, this contest represents the first league match for both Valencia and Celta Vigo in the campaign.

Corberan has opted for a side featuring five defenders in front of Dimitrievski, with Gaya and Justin de Haas included alongside Jesus Vazquez, Cesar Tarrega and Pepelu. Rodriguez, Guerra and Ugrinic will provide the central midfield presence, while Danjuma and Ryunosuke Sato lead the attack.

Dieng will therefore begin the match as one of Valencia’s substitutes, with the team’s announced starting line-up confirmed before the meeting with Celta Vigo.