Reading the local Valencia daily Las Provincias on Sunday morning, one could straight away get a feel for just how important the night before was. No less than eight pages were dedicated to the memorable 90 minutes at Camp Nou – and it is not even a sports daily. Amongst the lyrical waxing, phrases like “it was destiny” and “the pride of Valencia is restored after having been long lost” give an idea of just what it meant to Los Valencianos.
Recent years have been tough on Los Che fans. Incompetence at board level has seen the club’s debt spiral. In an attempt to solve its financial issues, the club has enacted a policy of selling its best players. In the last five years the likes David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Roberto Soldado have all been sold and not adequately replaced. After years of being considered the ‘third best’ side in Spain, last season the drop in quality in ranks was reflected as the side finished outside the top four – meaning no Champions League football.
It is all a far cry from the early years of the Millennium when the club made two consecutive European Cup finals before winning La Liga twice and picking up a UEFA Cup. It is easy to imagine that the “pride of Valencia” had indeed been lost.
They may not have won a title, but, their famous victory on Saturday night has helped to bring back some of this pride. And there is hope that it is the start of something greater. Reading on, Las Provinicias stated: “could it be by chance that after the most active winter transfer market in recent times that not even 24 hours later Los Che defeat Barcelona at home or it is the start of a new dawn?”
It was indeed a busy January at the Mestalla. Vinicuis Araujo, Philippe Senderos, Seydou Keita, Eduoardo Vargas and Ruben Vezo all came in. Meanwhile, Sergio Canales, Adil Ramo, Helder Postiga, Dorlan Pabon, Ever Banega and Andres Guardado were all shipped on. The club certainly took some gambles, both in terms of who they signed and who they let go. But, if Saturday’s win is a sign of things to come, it may all be worth it. Perhaps it really is the beginning of a new dawn and not just a flash in the pan.
If it isn’t, if Valencia play to the same level every week, then Juan Antonio Pizzi might just be the one to bring back the glory days. For it has to be said, Valencia wholeheartedly deserved all three points. They may not have dominated possession, but, they made it extremely difficult for Barca to break them down. When they went on the attack, they were brave and efficient. For all the home side’s possession, they only registered five shots on target. Diego Alves was unstoppable in goal while at the other end Sofiane Feghouli gave Jordi Alba – who was sent off when for a second bookable foul on the Algerian – absolute nightmares. In the centre Dani Parejo and former Barca player Oriol Romeu were superb.
Perhaps most impressive of all however was that Valencia actually came from behind to win. Alexis Sanchez was the one who opened the scoring not before goals from Parejo and Pablo Piatti out Pizzi’s side up. Barca drew level courtesy of a very dubious penalty that Lionel Messi converted – it was his first goal in La Liga since September. Refusing to give up on the possibility of an unlikely win, Pizzi’s men continued to take chances and duly got their reward. It was their first win at Camp Nou in over ten years and it brought to an end the home side’s 25-match winning streak.
By Sunday night another Barcelona streak was also halted. With Atletico Madrid demolishing Real Sociedad by four goals to nil, Barca’s 59 match-days at the summit is over. Diego Simeone now lead La Liga by a three-point margin. Not since the 1995-96 season – when they won the title with Simeone in midfield – have they been in such a position. An omen perhaps.
Barca were not the only title challenger to fluff their lines either, Real Madrid did too. Away to Athletic Bilbao the capital side were outplayed in the first half. A goal from Jese in the second period put them ahead but Ibai Gomez’s equaliser ensured the spoils were shared and deservedly so. Another tough challenge awaits Carlo Ancelotti’s side next weekend in the shape of Villarreal and they will have to do so without Cristiano Ronaldo, who saw red at San Mames.
