Confirmed absence for Valencia ahead of Barcelona visit

Valencia CF

The final training session before welcoming the blaugrana side offered the coaching staff a double reading. The positive side was Pablo Maffeo and Kayne Van Oevelen, who completed the session normally with the rest of the squad and, barring a last-minute setback, will be available for the game.

The negative news centered on Luis Rioja. The Andalusian winger had been dealing with physical discomfort for several days and had not been able to train normally during the week. His absence from the last practice finally confirmed that no he will be able to take part this Sunday against the FC Barcelona.

Rioja forces Corberan to tweak his plans

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Luis Rioja
3.100.000€-540.000€ ?

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The absence comes at a delicate time because Rioja had been in the coach's plans at the start of the season. In fact, he started in the last match of the Valencia CF against Deportivo de La Coruña, a sign that he was among the main options for these early LaLiga matchdays.

Corberan will have to look for an alternative to cover a position in which the Andalusian player had gained prominence. Valencia will therefore face the visit of the Barça with Luis Rioja confirmed as an absence and with Maffeo and Van Oevelen available after training without any problems.