PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced the travel roster for Spanish La Liga club Valencia CF, which visits JELD-WEN Field for an international exhibition match against the Timbers on Wednesday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Valencia’s 19-player roster is highlighted by two of the team’s top scorers from the 2011-12 season in forwards Jonas and Aritz Aduriz, long-time midfielder and Spanish international David Albelda, France National Team defender Jérémy Mathieu and first-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
Jonas, a member of the Brazilian National Team, recorded 10 goals and shared the team lead with five assists, while Aduriz notched seven goals during the recent La Liga campaign. A member of Valencia since 1996, Albelda has made over 330 appearances with the club and serves as the club captain.
Also included in Valencia’s travel squad is midfielder Daniel Parejo, who helped Spain’s U-21 National Team win the 2011 UEFA European U-21 Championship.
Valencia, who finished third in the 2011-12 La Liga table and qualified for the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League, visits the Rose City as part of a two-stop, post-season tour in the United States. The Spanish side will also play MLS club the Houston Dynamo in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, May 31.
The exhibition match between the Timbers and Valencia will be broadcast live on 750 AM The Game, with live video webcasts in English and Spanish available at www.portlandtimbers.com.
The match against Valencia opens the Timbers’ international exhibition slate in 2012, with the club also playing host to English Premier League club Aston Villa on Tuesday, July 24, at JELD-WEN Field.
Valencia CF Travel Roster (by position)
Goalkeepers (2): Diego Alves, Vicente Guaita
Defenders (8): Antonio Barragán, Albert Dalmau, Ángel Dealbert, Joel Johnson, Jérémy Mathieu, Miguel, José Pardo, Víctor Ruiz
Midfielders (6): David Albelda, Tino Costa, Carles Gil, Pablo, Daniel Parejo, Portu
Forwards (3): Aritz Aduriz, Jonas, Pablo Piatti
