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LFP: Barca hope Valencia stay soft touch at home

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, right, congratulates Samuel Eto'o during their home match against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

Facing Valencia at the Mestalla stadium used to strike fear into Spanish teams, but this season Ronald Koeman's side are proving a soft touch at home and Barcelona hope to take advantage today.

Four home defeats, including a 5-1 mauling by Real Madrid, offer Barcelona hope of closing the four-point gap to the league leaders although Frank Rijkaard's team have collected just seven points from a possible 21 on their travels.

"The most important thing is not to fall away from Real," explained Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o. "We hope they do not escape from us."

Eto'o returned to action last weekend for the first time since a knee injury at the end of August and Portuguese international Deco is also back in the fold to bolster Rijkaard's options.

"I imagine that people aren't optimistic ahead of the duels with Valencia and Real but you have to have confidence in this team," Rijkaard said. "We have got Eto'o and Deco back and Yaya Toure on the road to recovery too."

"We have a lot of options to help us have a good season. We want to win and play well but it is not possible at the moment," he said.

Barcelona's cause will be helped by the fact that Valencia, the league winners in 2002 and 2004, have failed to score in their last five games and will be without star striker David Villa who sustained a hamstring injury in the 0-0 Champions League draw with Chelsea in midweek.

"We have a number of players who are unable to play at 100 percent," admitted Valencia coach Ronald Koeman.

"There are injuries and knocks that are hindering them but we have to get on with it," the Dutchman said.

Meanwhile Real have what looks to be an easier task when they host Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu tomorrow.

Real, who qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek, have won 11 out of 15 games this season and midfielder Guti believes they will retain their title if they can continue at this pace.

"If we continue at this rate we will be champions," Guti said. "However we are in a competitive league where everyone can beat each other and you can go through a bad patch."

Meanwhile Van Nistelrooy is Real's good luck charm with the team never losing when he scores in the league. The Dutchman has netted 32 goals to help Real achieve 19 victories and three draws.
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