After 91 days, La Liga returns to Mestalla as Valencia CF hosts Celta. This match signifies the team's last campaign in its centenary stadium, with the relocation to Nou Mestalla anticipated for summer 2027. The season commences amidst uncertainty, with several players sidelined and the squad still awaiting reinforcements.
Carlos Corberán faces the debut with numerous absences. Luis Rioja, Dimitri Foulquier, Diego López, and Copete will be unavailable. The recent signing Pablo Maffeo, despite completing one training session, is not yet expected to start.
The preseason has not dispelled doubts, showing a record of three wins, one draw, and four losses. Both the team and the coach have faced criticism from fans longing for a less challenging season. The aim is to start well and avoid repeating the poor opening stages of previous eras.
The opponent, Celta Vigo, presents itself as an uncomfortable adversary. The Galician team has lost only one of their last seven encounters against Valencia and won both matches last season. One of those games saw Pepelu playing in goal, and the defeat at Mestalla ended the Valencian side's European aspirations.
Claudio Giráldez, Celta's coach, also faces some unknowns, particularly in attack. Hugo González, a product of Valencia's academy and a preseason sensation with six goals in five games, could be a notable inclusion. He might form the attack with Williot Swedberg and Ferran Jutglà, while Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias have varying chances of making the starting lineup.
This match is more than just a league debut; it's the first chapter of Mestalla's farewell. Valencia aims for Celta's final visit to the centenary stadium to be the first victory of a season focused on leaving behind years of struggle.
