Valencia vs. Real Zaragoza

By Emerald Gao
Written on May 13, 2007

Moretti scored for the second time in his Valencia career. These are the little treasures of each season: goals from unexpected sources at unexpected times. Like the goals from Miguel and Albelda last season, and the occasional strikes from the central defenders, they reassure me that this team can be multi-faceted when it comes to scoring. At times last season it seemed like Villa was shouldering all the responsibility, but now that Morientes has come, Silva has returned, and other midfielders (Hugo Viana?!) have started to contribute with goals, I won't feel so bad if Villa decides to leave. I'll be heartbroken for other reasons, of course, but Valencia have gotten along without him before, and they will again if he decides to move onto other pastures.

One reason that I've already talked about is the complete dominance of Silva. The combination of speed, skill, and more durable ankles than Vicente (despite all the tackles he invites) has made him everybody's favorite new player. And he's much better at this stage than Pablito -- much more of a game winner. More than ever, I feel like last summer's "surprise" transfer was an inevitability on some level. It makes me a bit sad because he'll always be my favorite player, but despite a solid season, he is clearly on the wane. The mortality of idols is so hard to accept.

As for Zaragoza, they are undoubtedly loaded with skill at every position, but somehow perpetually on the cusp of something great. They lack either the confidence or the last puzzle piece to make things pleasant for themselves. I've maintained, for the last couple of seasons, that they are one quality goalkeeper away from the Champions League. Cesar can play blinders, save penalties (like he did in this match), etc., but his hands just aren't the safest.

Take Valencia's second goal. You can credit Valencia with ingenuity -- Miguel's gorgeous backheel to Angulo setting up the whole thing -- but Cesar can perhaps be faulted for not holding onto Villa's shot, allowing Silva all the time in the world to line up the rebound and cooly slot it in. It was a case of "brilliant goal, but the keeper could have done better."

Random note: The Mestalla announcer makes me so happy. Every time Valencia scores, he does the same routine, and having heard it firsthand, I can never forget how well it echoes off the walls of fans in the stadium, and how everybody, from the tiniest Valencianista to the eldest statesman, joins in. It's something incredible.

Valencia's biggest bad habit is complacency in the dying stages of a match. Quique Sanchez Flores is too inexperienced to vary his substitutions, although the lack of depth on the bench doesn't work in his favor. His trust in the cantera kids is both admirable and extremely important, but there are some obvious pieces of driftwood that he keeps around like an old lady hoarding her junky trinkets. All in all, he tends to make the same moves every week: a defensive change, if he's holding onto a lead, and straight substitutions otherwise.

With Zaragoza's energy and creativity running out early in the match, though, he had nothing to worry about.

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