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 yet one more chaotic interval on the planet of Barcelona, with Xavi’s U-turn relating to 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 determination sparked a 13-game unbeaten run, so it will be attention-grabbing to see the impact his U-turn has on the Barcelona squad through the closing month of the season.
On Monday they will be dealing with a Valencia facet which have loved a resurgent marketing campaign with Ruben Baraja on the helm. After ending sixteenth final time period, Valencia presently occupy eighth in La Liga and have an outdoor shot of securing European soccer. That is actually a giant sport for the guests.
This is 90min’s preview of the sport.
Barcelona vs Valencia H2H Document (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/reside 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 must 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 harm in opposition to Actual Madrid in March.
The guests are in any other case fairly wholesome on the harm entrance, though they might be with out stalwart left-back Jose Gaya. The Valencia captain is battling a muscle harm.
Valencia predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Vazquez; Perez, Pepelu, Guerra, Lopez; Almeida, Duro.
Barcelona have been actually unlucky to lose El Clasico final Sunday, with Xavi’s facet doubtlessly displaying indicators of distinct enchancment in 2024.
Their season could be over, however this can be a large month for a lot of Barcelona stars with the membership prone to oversee a substantial personnel reshuffle this summer time. The hosts tackle a reasonably cussed Valencia facet that may cede management and territory, trying to lure Barcelona right into a false sense of safety.
The guests might do with a end result to spice up their hopes of securing European soccer for subsequent season, but it surely’ll be a tricky ask in opposition to a Barcelona facet taking part in with out a lot strain. Valencia will make life robust for the Catalonians, however the hosts ought to edge a decent encounter.
