No1 hopes Barça raise Valencia's game

Knocked out of Europe, without a goal in five matches, and with morale on the floor, Valencia CF's goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares reckons the visit of FC Barcelona in the Primera División on Saturday is just the remedy.

Home worries
Ronald Koeman's side finished bottom of their UEFA Champions League group on Tuesday when they could only draw at Chelsea FC, missing out on third place and a parachute into the UEFA Cup. They return to face the music in front of their restless fans at the Mestalla, with one of the league's worst home records. Although they are seventh in the standings, only four teams have accumulated fewer than their nine points from seven home matches, and they are all near the foot of the table.

Leaky defence
Their 3-0 defeat by Athletic Club Bilbao two weeks ago made them the Primera División's leakiest defence on home turf with 15 conceded, and their next visitors boast the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. However, Cañizares hopes the Catalan club will help his side raise their game, saying: "The negative aspects of facing a great team like Barcelona are counterbalanced by the greater motivation it gives you and the fact our fans will be more inclined to get behind us."

Barça travels
Valencia will be without injured striker David Villa but can take comfort from Barcelona's poor showings away from Camp Nou. Frank Rijkaard's second-placed side have won just once on their travels, at bottom club Levante UD in September. Barça, though, will not want to lose more ground on leaders Real Madrid CF, who have a four-point advantage and a home tie against CA Osasuna on Sunday. Madrid have a 100 per cent record at the Santiago Bernabéu and visit Camp Nou the following weekend, in the last round of matches of 2007. Osasuna, in 14th, will be missing ex-Madrid players Javi García and Juanfran due to clauses in their contracts.

Villarreal shaky
Third-placed Club Atlético de Madrid, who sit one point behind Barça, have lost only once in eight outings and go to mid-table RC Recreativo de Huelva on Sunday. A further two points back in fourth, Villarreal CF face a tough task to end their recent dip in form when they make the trip to Getafe CF, also on Sunday. Manuel Pellegrini's men have one point from their last three games, all against teams in the bottom half.