Valencia face Barca in early title showdown

Stunning overhead kick gets Griezmann going again

BARCELONA, Nov 23, (Agencies): Valencia have gone from being the laughing stock of La Liga a year ago to becoming the main challengers to Barcelona in the title race and face the biggest test of their credentials when they host Ernesto Valverde’s leaders on Sunday.

Valencia, the six times Liga champions who last lifted the title in 2004 under Rafael Benitez, are on a club record run of eight straight wins and another victory in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash would put them within a point of Barcelona.

But the Catalans, who have won 11 of their 12 games so far, meanwhile, would take an almighty step to reclaiming the title even at this early stage if they win at The Mestalla, with usual challengers Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid 10 points adrift.

Valencia have hurtled from one crisis to the next over the last five years, appointing 10 coaches since parting ways with Unai Emery in 2012, but they have finally found a suitable man for the job in Marcelino.

The Spaniard, who turned his previous club Villarreal from a recently relegated side into a regular fixture in European football, inherited a team that came 12th two years in a row and who last season conceded the most goals in the club’s history.

Valencia had a huge clear out in the close season, getting rid of 13 players and replacing them with high-profile loan signings such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Goncalo Guedes, Jeison Murillo and Andreas Pereira.

Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann was getting increasingly tired of all the missed opportunities.

The jeers were becoming louder and the criticism was growing tougher.

He desperately needed to turn things around, and it took a stunning overhead kick for him to get going again.

Griezmann regained his scoring touch when Atletico Madrid needed him, finding the net with a remarkable volley to lead the Spanish club to a 2-0 win over Roma on Wednesday, keeping alive the team’s hopes of advancing in the Champions League.

“What a goal,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “The type of goal by someone of his talent. Hopefully it will be the first of many other goals to come.”