Mestalla: Home of Valencia(credit:
Wikipedia)
Barcelona defender Dani Alves insists recent comments by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will not derail their title push.
Barca, chasing their third successive La Liga crown, are seven points clear of Madrid at the top of the Spanish Primera Division, and they can extend that advantage to 10 points with victory at Valencia this evening.
With Madrid in action on Thursday night, Mourinho this week claimed that Barcelona are given favourable time slots in the fixture list, but Alves insists the Portuguese’s comments are simply mind games that the Catalan giants will not fall for.
The Brazilian said: “Whatever happens, draw or lose, we won't complain about the calendar. Excuses don't work here, only work.
“Mourinho is very intelligent because he tries to deflect the attention away from his team and onto himself, but his comments won't destabilise us.”
While Barcelona head into this game on the back of a comfortable 3-0 victory at Mallorca, Valencia ran out 2-1 winners at Athletic Bilbao last time out.
Watch Valencia v Barcelona live at 365, kicking off at 21.00 GMT.