Valencia rue defensive injuries
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
Article summary
Injured Valencia CF duo Fabian Ayala and Mauricio Pellegrino are expected to be out for a month.
Article body
Spanish championship hopefuls Valencia CF will be without two of their key defenders, Argentinian international duo Fabian Ayala and Mauricio Pellegrino, for at least a month.
Level at the top
Already ruled out of their country's friendly international with Cameroon in Geneva tomorrow, Ayala and Pellegrino will miss a number of crucial Primera División fixtures. Valencia are currently level on points with Real Madrid CF at the summit and will be desperate to have the central defensive stalwarts fit for the home meeting with RC Deportivo la Coruña, currently third, on 21 April.
Málaga return
However, it is more likely that Ayala, who tore a muscle in last week's UEFA Cup defeat by Internazionale FC, and Pellegrino, who suffered a dislocated collar bone in Sunday's 2-1 league victory against Club Atlético Osasuna, will return for the trip to Málaga CF on 5 May.
Meanest defence
Miroslav Djukic and Carlos Marchena are expected to deputise for the South Americans in what is the meanest defence in the Spanish top flight. Valencia have conceded just 25 goals in 31 league matches this term.
