Unai the Great?

       La Liga has been dominated over the last 7 seasons by the Spanish super powers Barcelona and Real Madrid but this year a thorn in the side of the top two is debt ridden Valencia who, after 6 rounds of matches, lie at the top of the league with 16 points. With debts estimated to be around €400 million, a half built new stadium and having to sell two of the brightest lights of Spanish football in David Villa and David Silva this many had little hope for Valencia this season. One asset they do have though is manager Unai Emery.

     Having taken over from Ronald Koeman in 2008 Emery led Valencia to 6th place in his first season in charge and Europa League qualification. A year later Emery delivered once more by getting Valencia to 3rd in La Liga, securing Champions League qualification, and reaching the quarter finals of both the Europa League and the Copa del Rey. This season, however, is by far his biggest task. The sale of David Villa, Valencia's top goalscorer for the last 5 seasons, to Barcelona left a massive hole in the squad that many thought he would be unable to fill however he seems to have consummately filled that with the signings of Roberto Soldado and Artiz Aduriz. The latter in particular seems to be a masterstroke of a signing having scored 3 goals in 5 appearances after his £3,870,000 (€4,300,000) from RCD Mallorca in the summer. Aduriz's form for his new club earned him his first call up for the Spanish national team in the 3-1 home win against Lithuania.

      This Saturday will be Valencia's biggest test so far this season and the first chance for Emery to show that his side have the true strength to contend for this year's La Liga when they visit the Camp Nou to play Barcelona. Although it's still early in the season this game could be pretty pivotal in the title race for Unai and his men.