Valencia will be without six players for their La Liga meeting with Barcelona on 6 September, with a further three footballers doubtful because of injury concerns.
The match will be played at Mestalla, where Carlos Corberan’s side will attempt to recover from a difficult opening to the season. According to Sport.es, Copete, Umar Sadiq, Sergi Canos, Justin De Haas, Ildiz Rodriguez and Diego Lopez are all expected to miss the fourth-round fixture.
The six players are dealing with a range of injuries. The problems include meniscus damage, hamstring injuries, ankle and quadriceps issues, as well as anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Valencia have not been able to call on the affected players as they prepare to face the reigning Spanish champions.
There is also uncertainty over the availability of three more members of the squad. Dimitri Foulquier is continuing his recovery from injury, while Luis Rioja has pain in his quadriceps. Cenk Ozkacar is also experiencing discomfort in his ankle.
Their status will be assessed ahead of the match, but Valencia already face a significant shortage of available players. The scale of the absences adds to the challenge for Corberan, whose team has collected only one point from its first three league matches.
Valencia began their campaign with a draw against Celta before suffering defeats by Deportivo and Real Betis. Those results have left the club with just a single point before the visit of Barcelona.
Barcelona, by contrast, have made a confident start to the season and arrive as the current champions of Spain. Valencia therefore face a demanding test at a time when injuries are limiting Corberan’s options.
The fixture represents the fourth round of La Liga and will take place at Mestalla on 6 September. For Valencia, the immediate priority is to manage the extensive injury list while preparing for a Barcelona side that has started the campaign strongly.
The six confirmed absentees are Copete, Umar Sadiq, Sergi Canos, Justin De Haas, Ildiz Rodriguez and Diego Lopez. Foulquier, Luis Rioja and Cenk Ozkacar remain doubts, meaning Valencia could still have further decisions to make before the match.