Valencia’s Barcelona test overshadowed by nine-player injury list

Valencia’s difficult start to the La Liga season could worsen when Barcelona visit Mestalla on Sunday, with six players ruled out and three more doubtful because of injury.

Carlos Corberan’s side have taken only one point from their opening three league matches. They lost to Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis before drawing with Celta Vigo, leaving Valencia with just one point from a possible nine.

Their next opponents, however, have made a perfect start. Barcelona have won each of their first three matches and will arrive in strong form as the defending champions, having secured the La Liga title in each of the past two seasons.

That combination of Valencia’s poor results and a growing injury list has increased concern around Mestalla before one of the most demanding fixtures of the campaign. A defeat would leave Valencia with only one point from their first four games, a potentially disastrous opening to the season.

According to Sport, Corberan will be unable to call on Copete, who is suffering from a meniscus injury, and Umar Sadiq, who has suffered a hamstring tear.

Sergi Canos is also expected to miss the match after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Justin De Haas is unavailable because of a sprained right ankle, while Guido Rodriguez is recovering from a quadriceps problem.

Diego Lopez completes the list of confirmed absentees. He is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering another anterior cruciate ligament tear.

The situation could become even more difficult for Corberan if three additional players fail to recover in time to be included in the matchday squad.

Dimitri Foulquier is considered unlikely to make his return after a period out of action. Luis Rioja is struggling with pain in his quadriceps, while Kaine van Oevelen has an ankle problem.

The fitness of that trio means Corberan may have to make further changes to the starting line-up he would normally prefer to use. The Valencia manager must now assess the available options before facing a Barcelona team that has already shown its strength in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Valencia’s early results have placed pressure on the club, and the injury problems have made preparations for the visit of the champions more complicated. With six players definitely unavailable and three more facing late fitness tests, the hosts could be forced to rely on a significantly altered squad at Mestalla.

Barcelona’s unbeaten start and Valencia’s lack of points have created a sharp contrast between the two sides before Sunday’s meeting. For the home team, avoiding a fourth consecutive league match without a victory will be made harder by the number of established players missing or struggling to be fit.