Prediction: Real Valladolid vs Barcelona

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 13/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Real Valladolid play host to Barcelona at the Estadio Jose Zorilla in the 36th round of the La Liga season on Tuesday evening. Given the respective situations of the two teams, the contest should be an interesting one.

Real Valladolid

Valladolid need every point they can get between now and June 4th, when the last games of the season are being played. At the moment, they’re in the relegation zone, topping it from 18th place with 35 points, the same tally as Getafe in 17th, and just one point more than Espanyol in 19th. Almeria (14th place, 39 points), Celta Vigo (15th, 39) and Cadiz (16th, 38) are far from being safe as well. It is between these teams that two of the three relegation spots will be decided, as bottom side Elche already prepare for a season in the second tier with no more than 20 points.

Meanwhile, Paulo Pezzolano’s team have been lining bad results one after the other recently. Their last-six run in all competitions begins with a 1-0 victory at home against Girona, but then they lost five in a row: 2-1 away to Valencia, 2-5 at home against Atletico Madrid, 2-1 away to Rayo Vallecano, 0-3 at home against Europa League finalists Sevilla, and 2-0 away to Cadiz.

While the previous results have a great deal to do with the quality of the opposition, Pezzolano and his men would’ve been in a much better situation at the moment had they managed to remain undefeated in Cadiz. As it is, a brace from Theo Bongonda took the home side up the ladder, leaving Valladolid in a real spot of bother along with a red card later received by Martin Hongla.

Team News

Hongla obviously won’t be at the base of midfield due to being suspended for the red card against Cadiz, and that’s an added problem for Pezzolano in the middle of the park, given that Anuar (ACL) and Selim Amallah (fractured shoulder) are injured. Right-back Luis Perez is also out, suffering from an adductor problem.

Captain Jordi Masip will be in goal. Joaquin Fernandez, Javi Sanchez and Jawad El Yamiq should be the back line of three. Monchu and Alvaro Aguado are expected in the middle of the park, with Lucas Olaza on the left and Lucas Rosa on the right. Gonzalo Plata is likely to start slightly further up, behind strikers Sergio Leon and Cyle Larin.

Barcelona

For Barcelona, the competitive part of the season is over, and they’ve finished it in style, as the new La Liga champions. Having been knocked out of two European competitions this season, one after another, and yielded in a humiliating fashion to Real Madrid in semifinals of the Copa del Rey, Xavi Hernandez will be extremely glad that his men beat their arch-rivals so thoroughly in the league title race. At the moment, their unassailable lead amounts to 13 points.

Despite their domination in the league, Barcelona suffered two rather unexpected defeats in their last six outings. The run started with a 1-0 home win over Atletico Madrid, but then they were shocked away to Rayo Vallecano, losing 2-1. A 4-0 victory over Real Betis followed, along with a 1-0 home win over Osasuna and a 2-4 win over city rivals Espanyol, where their title became a mathematical certainty before they lost 1-2 at home to Champions League chasers Real Sociedad.

Robert Lewandowski was on target for the Blaugrana in the last minute of the 90, but only after Mikel Merino (5′) and Alexander Sorloth had given the visitors a two-goal lead.

Team News

Defender Ronald Araujo and midfielder Pedri missed the Sociedad match through minor muscle issues, and they’re both set to return to the fold for this one.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be in goal, with Jules Kounde, Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde at the back. Gavi is expected to start in the middle of the park alongside Sergio Busquets and Pedri, giving Frenkie de Jong a chance to rest. Wingers Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha should provide support for Robert Lewandowski upfront.

Conclusion

It’s obviously a much bigger game for Valladolid than for Barcelona, and that, along with the support from the stands of their stadium, could help the home side tilt the contest their way, even if most bookmakers don’t see it that way.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 13/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet