Matchday 4 - Featured Preview: Valencia vs Atletico Madrid

The most eagerly anticipated clash of the midweek matchday four calendar is Atletico Madrid's trip to Mestalla to play top of the league side Valencia. Unai Emery's team have a 100% domestic record so far and, thanks in part to their fine Champions League opening win against Bursapor in Turkey, things could not be going smoother for Los Che at the moment. Atletico were doing just as well in La Liga until Barcelona came and conquered them at the Vicente Calderon last weekend, but they are still obviously a team who could do Valencia some damage. Realistically, these teams are among three or four vying for the honour of being named the third best club in Spain this season; first blood in that contest will be drawn on Wednesday.

VALENCIA

Player to Watch: Tino Costa

Valencia are top of the table at present thanks to a form guide which reads WWW after their first three games. They are the only team to have won all of their La Liga games up until now and Unai Emery will be hoping to continue that trend at Mestalla on Wednesday in the face of arguably their sternest test so far, namely, Quique Sanchez Flores' Atletico Madrid. This game was drawn 2-2 in the corresponding fixture last season and, if early form is anything to go by, it will be another tight affair in Valencia.

Unai Emery is unable to call on Marius Stankevicius or Ever Banega and Vicente is a doubt with the same injury which saw him miss the win over Hercules last weekend. David Navarro was sent off in a 1-2 win at the Jose Rico Perez but, as the dismissal came after the receipt of two yellow cards, Navarro's suspension is unlikely to be processed in time for Wednesday so he will serve the automatic one match ban at the weekend. Valencia's captain should, therefore, continue in the centre of defence next to either Angel Dealbert, Ricardo Costa - who was rested last Sunday - or Hedwiges Maduro. Jeremy Mathieu and Jordi Alba are competing for the left back slot and Bruno Saltor and Luis Miguel are fighting it out on the right; in both cases, the former currently appears to have precedence. Former Boca Junior star Banega's absence in central midfield means that Manuel Fernandes, Mehmet Topal and David Albelda are all in with a fighting chance of partnering Valencia's impressive new star, Tino Costa. Costa won rave reviews for his Champions League debut against Bursapor and it looks as though Banega's compatriot will eventually emerge as his long-term partner. Juanma Mata, Pablo Hernandez and Joaquin could continue in a formidable attacking midfield if Emery sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation. The only drawback with that system is that it forces the manager to choose between Aritz Aduriz and Roberto Soldado up front when he knows both are proven goal scorers at this level. With so many attacking options, however, something (or someone) has got to give.

Possible starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Cesar; Jeremy Mathieu, David Navarro, Hedwiges Maduro, Luis Miguel; Tino Costa, David Albelda; Juanma Mata, Pablo Hernandez, Joaquin; Aritz Aduriz;

ATLETICO MADRID

Player to Watch: Diego Forlan

Atletico Madrid's 1-2 defeat to Barcelona was mired in controversy due to Tomas Ujfalusi's seemingly deliberate late foul on Lionel Messi, which saw the stricken FIFA World Player of the Year stretchered off the pitch. Ujfalusi's resulting red card at the Vicente Calderon sees him suspended for this crucial clash with Valencia at Mestalla on Wednesday, where the rojiblancos are hoping to get back to winning ways after consecutive defeats in the Europa League and La Liga. Their league form reads WWL in the opening three and, considering that defeat to Barcelona is nothing to be too ashamed of, Quique Sanchez Flores will plead for confidence against the current league leaders in what could be a very open tie.

Flores has had several fresh problems to deal with during the build up to this game. Sergio Aguero came back too quickly against Barca and, in hindisght, it is easy to condemn it as a poorly calculated risk; the Argentinean striker was not up to his usual standards and finished the game with an inflamed knee which will keep him out on Wednesday night. If the manager sticks with the 4-4-2 formation, Diego Costa will come straight in up front next to Diego Forlan and that looks all the more likely now that the midfield has suffered the loss of Portuguese international Tiago due to a minor niggling problem. Diego Costa was Real Valladolid's best player last season and the powerful forward deserves to be playing regularly at this level; I have no doubt that at 75% of La Liga clubs he would be the star of the show. Raul Garcia, who scored a fine header against Barcelona, will probably keep his place next to Paolo Assuncao in central midfield due to Tiago's absence, thus confining Mario Suarez and Ignacio Camacho to the bench. We can also expect key attacking wide men Jose Reyes and Simao to keep their places on the wings for this important game. Replacing Tomas Ujfalusi at right back will be either Juan Valera or Luis Perea: Valera is more naturally suited to that position as the Columbian is a centre back by trade but Quique Sanchez Flores has a lot of faith in Perea. Alvaro Dominguez and Diego Godin will continue in the centre and we may, if we're lucky, get a glimpse of Filipe Luis at left back. Filipe is still looking for a first start since his move from Deportivo La Coruna and he will have to leapfrog Antonio Lopez before he finally gets his chance to shine. David De Gea's excellent form guarantees his place in goal and it helps that he only has competition from the inexperienced Joel due to the continued absence of Sergio Asenjo.

Possible starting XI: (4-4-2) David de Gea; Antonio Lopez, Alvaro Dominguez, Diego Godin, Luis Perea; Simao, Raul Garcia, Paolo Assuncao, Jose Antonio Reyes; Diego Costa, Diego Forlan;