Valencia CF Visits La Nucía for a High-Stakes Cup Clash
La Nucía is set for a big afternoon as a regional landmark match unfolds at 19:00, broadcast by Movistar, aligning with the visit of Valencia CF, the region’s reference club. The Camilo Cano Olympic Stadium is expected to be packed, with an extra tier in use to accommodate tickets sold in advance for days of intense football. After eliminating Las Palmas, the Championship’s leadership remains within reach for the Marina Baixa team, which hopes to add another compelling chapter to its growing narrative of competitive excellence.
Despite the apparent distance between the two franchises, there is a visible sense of shared ambition. Locals see this clash as a milestone, while visitors face the challenge of a difficult journey following the departure of José Bordalás. César Ferrando marked his 701st match as coach today, celebrating a career that began with the club that first opened the door to professional football and has remained active for 25 years.
Tavernes de Valldigna’s senior coach spoke with evident pride about the appointment, saying, “Valencia is a club I grew up with as a player and coach, so it feels like home.” He added that it is a source of pride for both himself and the club to experience such a historic event, a game to be savored. In contrast, Gattuso views the match with a different lens, even as his side has found the competition’s level to be the source of the most pleasure in recent years—especially in Copa del Rey, where they reached the final in 2019 and where Valencia paused for rest during a World Cup break last year. The latest context sees both teams again in a championship phase that promises drama, with Valencia aiming to advance after a year shaped by ups and downs, including relegation-related turbulence at Villarreal last weekend, despite leading on the table at certain moments. The trophy remains a meaningful goal, and this fixture is poised to be a significant moment on that journey.
Valencia’s coach indicated roster rotations might accompany the match, though it remained uncertain whether changes would be sweeping or more selective. In a lineup that could be impacted by injuries and absences, goalkeeper Jaume Doménech carries the expectation of starting, while Nico González, who suffered a toe injury, could miss the game in La Cerámica. Dimitri Foulquier and Thierry Correia were also reported as unwell, leaving the backline with potential reshuffles. With two right-backs unavailable, the coach could pivot to Lato or Jesús Vázquez, or perhaps freshen defense by replacing Gabriel Paulista and inserting a youth team player such as Mosquera into the defensive backbone.
The decision on Golde’s participation was unclear, but if Giorgi Mamardashvili is unavailable, Iago Herrerín would step in. The most significant doubt centered on the holding midfielder position, specifically whether Hugo Guillamón would return after a false start against Villarreal. Ferrando’s approach is to lock in a starting eleven, balancing experience with readiness: Jaume Valens, Romera, Dasquet, Adri León, Kevin Toner, Bustillo, Ismael Gutiérrez, Javi Cabezas, Fer Pina, Jorge García, and Javi Martín constitute the likely spine for the visitors, reflecting a commitment to stability and competitive continuity as the match unfolds and both teams contend for a memorable result.