AFP, Madrid :
Both unbeaten and off to club record starts in La Liga, Valencia host Barcelona in the game of the La Liga season so far on Sunday (1945GMT) aiming to prove their title credentials are for real.
After two seasons in the doldrums riddled by coaching changes and questions over Singaporean owner Peter Lim’s running of the club, Valencia have been revitalised by a combination of new boss Marcelino Garcia Toral and sporting director Mateu Alemany to post a record run of eight straight La Liga wins.
They still, though, trail Barca by four points at the top of the table as the Catalans have amassed 34 points from a possible 36.
“The truth is the team has changed completely. Not just on a playing level but also our mentality. That is what the coach has helped us a lot with,” said Valencia’s top scorer Simone Zaza, himself reborn after a disastrous loan spell at West Ham United last season.
