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Barcelona vs Valencia Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips | LaLiga

Arnav Kholkar

Barcelona vs Valencia Preview

Barcelona vs Valencia will take place at the Estadio Lluis Companys in La Liga as the 2nd placed side gear up to host the team in 8th on April 29.

Barca will enter this contest on the back of a strong run of form which has taken two blows recently. They won six games in a row before falling to Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in the second leg, hence being eliminated from the Champions League quarters after a 6-4 aggregate loss. They then lost the El Clasico 3-2 against Real Madrid, virtually conceding the title. Now, with the news that Xavi will be staying on, they will look to finish the season strong.

The visitors, on the other hand, will enter this contest with a decent run of form behind them. Having lost just twice in their last eight games, Valencia have secured three wins and three draws in the other six as they look to revive their season. They are only four points adrift of the European spots with six games to go and can still qualify. Having beaten Osasuna 1-0, they fell 2-1 to Real Betis in the last one and will look to shake that off with a win in the next game.

With that said, let’s take a look at the team news coming out of both camps.

Barcelona vs Valencia Team News

Barcelona

Barcelona vs Valencia
Frenkie de Jong in action for Barcelona. (Getty Images)

Manager Xavi will be without a couple of his key players for this upcoming game. Long-term absentees Gavi (ACL) and Alejandro Balde (tendon rupture) will definitely be out for this game. The former is likely to make his return next season, while Balde could feature in the final matchdays. Frenkie de Jong (ankle) will also be out for this game.

Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, and Andreas Christensen have all picked up four bookings. Should they receive another, they will be suspended for one match.

Valencia

Manager Ruben Baraja will be without a couple of key players as well. Defender Mouctar Diakhaby and striker Roman Yeremchuk are both out long-term with knee injuries. Both are unlikely to make their returns before the end of the current season. Veteran Jose Luis Gaya is also out indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Pepelu and Fran Perez have picked up four bookings and will face a one-match suspension if they pick up another.

Barcelona vs Valencia Predicted Lineups

Barcelona

They played fairly well in their last game and Xavi will stick with the same combination.

Predicted XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (C) (GK); Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Joao Cancelo; Ilkay Gundogan, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Valencia

Baraja, too, will use the same team he played in the last game.

Predicted XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK); Thierry Correia (C), Cristhian Mosquera, Cenk Ozkacar, Jesus Vazquez; Fran Perez, Pepelu, Javier Guerra, Diego Lopez; Hugo Duro, Andre Almeida.

Barcelona vs Valencia Head-to-Head Record

These two sides have faced each other at least twice every season for the better part of three decades now. However, Barcelona have been dominant over the last five meetings, registering four wins and sharing one draw with Valencia, which came in the last meeting.

Last 5 Games

  • Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
  • Barcelona 1-0 Valencia
  • Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
  • Valencia 1-4 Barcelona
  • Barcelona 3-1 Valencia
Barcelona vs Valencia
Barcelona vs Valencia ended in a 1-1 draw last time. (Getty Images)

Barcelona vs Valencia Prediction

Considering Barcelona’s dominance over the last several meetings as well as their current form, they will be firm favourites to win this contest. However, Valencia have shown good resolve in their last few matches and have earned results. They will put up a tough fight and may even get on the scoresheet, but will ultimately fall marginally short.

Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Valencia.

Barcelona vs Valencia Betting Tips & Odds

Both teams have scored in three of the last five meetings between these two sides. The same has occurred in three of Barcelona’s last five games, as well as in Valencia’s last game. This points towards the likelihood of the feat being repeated.

Barca have also kept clean sheets in each of their last five home LaLiga games and will fight hard to do the same.

Betting Tips

  • Both Teams to Score – Yes: 1.95
  • Match Total – Over 3.5 Goals: 2.65
  • Valencia to Score – Yes: 1.76

Match Odds

  • Barcelona Win: 1.39
  • Draw: 5.20
  • Valencia Win: 8.20

Barcelona vs Valencia Timings & Telecast

  • Date & Time: Monday, 29th April at 8:00 PM (GMT).
  • India: Sports18, JioCinema app & website.
  • UK: Viaplay, ITV.
  • US: ESPN+
  • Spain: Movistar+

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