Granada CF - Valencia preview - Valencia, Granada out to stop rot - 7M sport

Granada CF - Valencia preview - Valencia, Granada out to stop rot



Posted Sunday, December 07, 2014 by PA

Granada and Valencia both go into Sunday's clash at Los Carmenes on the back of morale-boosting midweek cup wins, but still under significant pressure to pick up a three-point haul to aid their stuttering league campaigns.

Valencia recorded a 2-1 triunph over Rayo on Thursday, but have taken just one point from their last three La Liga fixtures to fall out of the Champions League berths.

And Granada's league situation is considerably worse, with the Andalusian club having lost six matches during a nine-game winless streak, which has left them only just above the relegation zone.

The did mange to claim a victory in Wednesday, beating Cordoba 1-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-32 tie, but the spotlight remains on coach Joaquin Caparros, who took charge this summer.

The possibility of his side hammering the final nail in Caparros' coffin was put to Valencia boss Nuno during Saturday's press conference, but the Portuguese preferred to offer his counterpart support rather than any last rites.

He said: "I've no opinion on that and they're things which I cannot influence. I know and admire Caparros for his extensive career in the Spanish league. The players need time to do what he wants."

Regarding his own team's situation, Nuno added: "Tomorrow we need to win. We have 18 points to fight for before the first half the season finishes and we will try to win, not only because we've slipped up in recent weeks, but because we need them to get into the Champions League.

"We think we are going to need 70 points at the end of the season."

Nuno, whose side currently have 24 points, has no major fitness concerns, despite only having one training session since Thursday's cup clash with Rayo.

Caparros must do without midfielder Javi Marquez as Granada go in search of their league victory since mid-September.

The former Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao boss acknowledges it will not be easy against Los Che, but says his players are desperate to get out of their rut.

He told a press conference: "We're well aware that we need points and wins.

"We're playing against a magnificent team, with a lot of quality, and we need to give it everything.

"Valencia are a very dynamic team full of speed and goals, but we know that we depend on ourselves, and what we're capable of,

"We need to have a strong game and create chances. The players are full of desire, in training we sometimes need to stop things and ask for calm because everyone is eager to please, them and the fans."



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