Valencia make the trip to Northern Spain to face fourth-tier outfit UD Logrones in the first round of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
In what has been a more promising campaign for Los Che, the La Liga outfit are in the top half and will look to avoid a major giant killing in this cup opener.
Match preview
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The eight-time Copa del Rey winners have enjoyed notable success in this competition despite their recent well-documented troubles.
After claiming their most recent title by beating Barcelona in the showpiece occasion in 2019, Valencia were also finalists in 2022, losing in heartbreaking circumstances against Real Betis on penalties.
While their upcoming lower-league opponents have never reached the fifth round before, Valencia have surpassed that stage in every season since 2004.
That was the last time that Valencia lost to any opponent below La Liga, as UE Lleida knocked them out almost two decades ago.
They can enter this fixture in much higher spirits too after a respectable start to the La Liga campaign under former player Ruben Baraja, something which was much needed after flirting with relegation for the entirety of last season.
Claiming 15 points in their opening 11 games, Valencia are now also unbeaten in three matches and were unfortunate not to make it back-to-back wins at the weekend.
Alex Berenguer's 97th-minute strike for Athletic Bilbao robbed Baraja's side of three points at San Mames, as the scoreline finished 2-2.
That result came after a comfortable home success over Cadiz and a decent draw away at Real Mallorca, but they will face some tough tests on the road in the coming weeks, as they travel to the current top two - Real Madrid and Girona - in their next two away from home.
Logrones's Copa journey also starts here, and the recently-relegated side have pedigree despite their level.
The club from La Rioja have won their fair share of cup ties in recent years, reaching the fourth round in both 2010-11 and 2015-16.
Valencia were the side who got the better of them in 2010-11, and they were the scourge of Logrones again in 2019-20, when Los Che were holders.
That more recent meeting saw Valencia record only a slender 1-0 victory thanks to an early Maxi Gomez goal, and Real Sociedad could only manage a win of the same scoreline over them last season.
It is almost 13 years since Logrones took a famous lead at Mestalla in their two-legged fourth round tie, but they were eventually outclassed, losing 7-1 on aggregate.
Diego Martinez's men should bring plenty of confidence into this tie, as their league form has been very good since dropping into the fourth tier; they are still unbeaten after nine matches and have been superb recently.
A 5-1 win over Arenas Club at the weekend followed up two other fine victories over San Juan (4-0) and Mutilvera (3-0), as Logrones currently occupy a playoff place in Group 2 of the Segunda Federacion.
Their one defeat across all competitions came in the Copa Federacion recently, a cup competition for sides playing in the Federacion divisions, and it came in heartbreaking fashion last Wednesday as Logrones blew a 2-0 lead to lose after extra time against Badalona Futur.
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Team News
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Logrones will be without central defender Andoni Ugarte with injury, their only expected absentee ahead of this clash.
Captain Inaki Saenz is the veteran of the side at 35, and the left-back should lead the side out here and look to remain solid defensively, but it was his attacking abilities which came to the forefront at the weekend, as he grabbed their second goal in the win over Arenas Club.
The game plan will revolve around defensive work, but namesakes Jony and Jon Madrazo will be the men Logrones look to for an attacking threat on the break here.
Valencia striker Hugo Duro picked up a shoulder injury in their draw at San Mames over the weekend and could well be out until the New Year, and will therefore be a huge loss looking ahead.
Duro will join a lengthening list of players on the sidelines, as influential young midfielder Andre Almeida is also out along with Mouctar Diakhaby, but both are expected to return in the coming weeks.
Cenk Ozcakar missed the trip to the Basque Country with a knee injury, and the game came too soon for Jesus Vazquez, who remains doubtful for this one.
With rotation likely from Baraja, Roman Yaremchuk is likely to come in for the injured Duro, while there could also be starts for Sergi Canos and Dimitri Foulquier, two players currently returning from injury layoffs.
Baraja may also see it as an opportunity to blood some youth into the squad, and after recent substitute appearances, there could be chances from the start for Hugo Guillamon, Hugo Gonzalez and Pablo Gozalbez.
UD Logrones possible starting lineup:
Kike Royo; Iribarren, Cristian Fernandez, Miki Codina, Inaki Saenz; Asier Goti, Sarriegi, Urzelai, Jon Madrazo; Jony, Yurrebaso
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Guillamon, Mosquera, Gaya; Sergi Canos, Javi Guerra, Pablo Gozalbez, Hugo Gonzalez; Yaremchuk, Amallah
We say: UD Logrones 0-3 Valencia
Despite it appearing a mismatch on paper, Logrones have competed well in this competition in recent years and kept the score down to just 1-0 the last time they met Valencia four years ago.
The visitors should have no difficulty in sweeping their opponents aside though and putting their name in the hat for the second round, especially after showing some fine recent form on the league front of late.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
