Real Betis vs Valencia preview - Pabon relishing Betis return

Posted Saturday, September 14, 2013 by PA

Valencia striker Dorlan Pabon is so focused on firing his new team to victory over Real Betis on Sunday that he is yet to decide how best to celebrate a possible goal against his former club.

The Colombian scored eight Primera Division goals in a six-month loan spell in Seville last season and, after arriving at Valencia from Monterrey in August, he is eager to replicate that form for Miroslav Djukic's side.

Pabon may have failed to score on his Valencia debut - a 3-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Barcelona at the Mestalla - but he feels he knows exactly where the goal is at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

He told Marca.com: "I'm happy to go back to a stadium where I did a good job, but now I work for Valencia and hopefully it'll be possible for me to do things as well as I did them for Betis.

"The truth is that we don't know where the coach wants to use me yet because I've been moved around several different position.

"But wherever I'm deployed I have to prove I can do great things for the club that has bought me."

The 25-year-old is well-known among fans of Colombia, Atletico Nacional and Betis - if he is not as highly regarded in Parma - for his enthusiastic goal celebrations, which typically involve frantic arm-waving and a passionate kiss for the club's badge.

And while Pabon is unlikely to overdo it at the Villamarin, Valencia fans can expect to see some sort of rehearsed expression of joy from the 7.5million euro striker should he find the back of the net.

"First of all we have to get things right and get the three points - then we'll see how I celebrate," Pabon added.

Despite winning their season-opener 1-0 against Malaga, Los Che have lost two on the spin to occupy a mediocre 12th place in the fledgling table.

Betis are worse off, however, having lost 2-1 to both Real Madrid and Celta Vigo before struggling through a goalless draw at Espanyol.

The Beticos are nestling in the embryonic relegation zone and, while pre-season predictions of a return to the Europa League places from president Miguel Guillen now seem a little ambitious, midfielder Xavi Torres remains optimistic.

He said: "I'm a cautious person and I like to take each game as it comes. I think with that template you can aspire to greater things."