With their hopes of retaining the La Liga title all however gone, Barcelona have little to play for down the stretch they usually’re subsequent in motion in opposition to Valencia on Monday night time.
It has been one more chaotic interval on the earth of Barcelona, with Xavi’s U-turn concerning his future arriving after his facet collapsed within the Champions League quarter-finals and misplaced El Clasico to champions-elect Actual Madrid.
Having introduced he’ll be stepping down as supervisor on the finish of the season in January, it was revealed on Wednesday that Xavi will stay as Barcelona’s head coach for the beginning of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
His preliminary resolution sparked a 13-game unbeaten run, so it’s going to be fascinating to see the impact his U-turn has on the Barcelona squad throughout the remaining month of the season.
On Monday they will be going through a Valencia facet which have loved a resurgent marketing campaign with Ruben Baraja on the helm. After ending sixteenth final time period, Valencia at the moment occupy eighth in La Liga and have an out of doors shot of securing European soccer. That is definitely an enormous sport for the guests.
This is 90min’s preview of the sport.
Barcelona vs Valencia H2H Report (Final 5 Video games)
Present kind (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Valencia |
|---|---|
|
Actual Madrid 3-2 Barcelona – 21/04/24 |
Valencia 1-2 Actual Betis – 20/04/24 |
|
Barcelona 1-4 PSG – 16/04/24 |
Osasuna 0-1 Valencia – 15/04/24 |
|
Cadiz 0-1 Barcelona – 13/04/24 |
Granada 0-1 Valencia – 04/04/24 |
|
PSG 2-3 Barcelona – 10/04/24 |
Valencia 0-0 Mallorca – 30/03/24 |
|
Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas 30/03/24 |
Villarreal 1-0 Valencia – 17/03/24 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/stay stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
LaLigaTV, Premier Sports activities Participant, Premier Sports activities 1 |
|
United States |
ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ |
|
Canada |
TSN1, TSN+ |
Barcelona can be with out Frenkie de Jong for the remainder of the season after he sprained his ankle throughout final week’s Clasico defeat. The Dutchman needs to be changed by Pedri in Xavi’s XI.
The hosts are additionally with out long-term absentees Gavi and Alejandro Balde, whereas Xavi might drop Joao Cancelo in favour of younger Hector Fort at left-back.
Marcos Alonso is an alternative choice.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Valencia (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Fort; Christensen, Pedri, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Mouctar Diakhaby is out indefinitely after struggling a horrendous leg damage in opposition to Actual Madrid in March.
The guests are in any other case fairly wholesome on the damage entrance, though they might be with out stalwart left-back Jose Gaya. The Valencia captain is scuffling with a muscle damage.
Valencia predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Vazquez; Perez, Pepelu, Guerra, Lopez; Almeida, Duro.
Barcelona have been definitely unlucky to lose El Clasico final Sunday, with Xavi’s facet doubtlessly displaying indicators of distinct enchancment in 2024.
Their season might be over, however this can be a huge month for a lot of Barcelona stars with the membership more likely to oversee a substantial personnel reshuffle this summer time. The hosts tackle a reasonably cussed Valencia facet that can cede management and territory, making an attempt to lure Barcelona right into a false sense of safety.
The guests might do with a outcome to spice up their hopes of securing European soccer for subsequent season, however it’ll be a tricky ask in opposition to a Barcelona facet taking part in with out a lot stress. Valencia will make life powerful for the Catalonians, however the hosts ought to edge a decent encounter.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Valencia
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