Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/2
Barcelona and Valencia will lock horns with each other in La Liga next week. The match between the Blaugrana and Los Che will be held at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time next Monday.
Barcelona
Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are the defending Spanish champions. They have one of the strongest teams in La Liga and were expected by many to win the La Liga title yet again this season. However, things have not progressed that way in the league.
Xavi’s side are now second in the La Liga table with 70 points from 32 matches. Barcelona’s chances of winning the league title for the second season in a row are almost over now after they lost to Real Madrid in El Clasico this past season. Barcelona have also failed to progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League this season after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the last four.
Barcelona will head into the La Liga match against Valencia on the back of a 3-2 defeat to bitter rivals Real Madrid away from home at the Santiago Bernabeu in the league. It came after a 4-1 hammering at the hands of PSG at home in the UEFA Champions League which followed a 1-0 victory over Cadiz on the road in La Liga.
Team News:
Barcelona are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be in goal for Xavi’s side and will have Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi and Joao Cancelo ahead of him in defence. Ilkay Gundogan, Andreas Christensen and Frankie de Jong will be the three midfielders. Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will be the three forwards.
Valencia
Valencia are one of the biggest clubs in La Liga who once used to play season after season in Europe’s top club competitions. Los Che were regulars in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League and were expected to do well in them, but they cannot even end up in the top four these days.
Los Che are eighth in the La Liga table at the moment with 47 points from 32 matches. Valencia are four points behind Real Sociedad, who are sixth now. Rubén Baraja’s side are not going to finish in the top four of the La Liga table this season.
Valencia finished 16th in La Liga table last season, so the chance to end up in the top six is a huge progress for them. Los Che, though, lost their last game. They went down 2-1 to Real Betis in La Liga this past weekend which came after 1-0 wins against Osasuna and Granada away from home in the league.
Team News:
Valencia are likely to line up in a 4-2-2 formation. Giorgi Mamardashvili will be in goal for Los Che and will have Thierry Correia, Cristhian Mosquera, Cenk Ozkacar and Jesus Vazquez as the four defenders. Fran Perez, Pepelu, Javier Guerra and Diego Lopez will be the four midfielders. Andre Almeida and Hugo Duro will be the two centre-forwards.
Key Factors to Consider
- Barcelona have lost 4 La Liga matches this season.
- Valencia have won 13 La Liga matches this season.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 13 goals and given 8 assists in 29 La Liga games for Barcelona this season.
- Hugo Duro has scored 12 goals and given 2 assists in 32 La Liga matches for Valencia this campaign.
- Barcelona have won 4 of their last 6 La Liga games.
Conclusion
Valencia are not having a great season, while Barcelona are in decent form. Xavi’s side are also at home for this game. It is hard to see anything but a win for the defending Spanish champions.
Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/2
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