Valdes content despite Barcelona’s form

MADRID. Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has said he is happy with his side’s start to the campaign despite the fact the Catalans haven’t shone in any of their past three games.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

SaturdayCelta Vigo    vs    Granada    7pmValladolid    vs    Getafe    9pmOsasuna    vs    Villarreal    11pmSundayReal Madrid    vs    Athletic    12pmEspanyol    vs    Betis    5pmR Sociedad    vs    Atletico    7pmValencia    vs    Barcelona    9pmSevilla    vs    MalagaMADRID. Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has said he is happy with his side’s start to the campaign despite the fact the Catalans haven’t shone in any of their past three games.Valdes was the hero as Barca lifted a record 11th Spanish Super Cup on away goals following a 0-0 draw (1-1 on aggregate) with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night as he made a string of fine saves.And with three clean sheets from the first four games of the season, the 31-year-old is pleased with how his final campaign at the Camp Nou has begun."I am very happy both on a personal level with my performances and how the team has started the season,” he told Barca TV."My role at Barca means I don’t have to intervene a lot. I have to do so with my feet more often than with my hands and now and again it is good to show that I can also do so with my hands.”However, after a 7-0 thrashing of Levante on the opening day, new Barca boss Gerardo Martino hasn’t had the most convincing of starts as, in between the two draws with Atleti, the Spanish champions were also lucky to come away with a 1-0 win from their trip to Malaga last weekend.Valdes, though, is hoping that having clinched the first silverware of the season they can kick on when they face another stiff test away to Valencia on Sunday. AgenciesValencia boss Miroslav Djukic could hand a debut to Colombian striker Dorlan Pabon after his move from Monterrey was completed on Wednesday and the Serbian is expected to make a few changes after publicly criticising his side’s performance in the 3-1 defeat to Espanyol last weekend.Earlier on Sunday, Real Madrid could move above Barca to the top of the table as they host Athletic Bilbao in the first midday kick-off of the season.