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Kick-off: Sunday, 17 April @19:30 GMT
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Live Stream: fuboTV (US), bet365 (non-US)
Head to head record
Valencia vs Barcelona 1-1 (2015/2016 Copa del Rey)
Barcelona vs Valencia 7-0 (2015/2016 Copa del Rey)
Valencia vs Barcelona 1-1 (2015/2016 La Liga)
Barcelona vs Valencia 2-0 (2014/2015 La Liga)
Valencia vs Barcelona 0-1 (2014/2015 La Liga)
Barcelona vs Valencia prediction
All eyes will be on Camp Nou when Barcelona and Valencia face each other for the fourth time this season. Barca aim to retain top position in the La Liga standings, but los Che are brimming with confidence following a 2-1 win over Sevilla.
Barca’s Champions League dream over
Barcelona suffered a dip in form and that is more than obvious. The Catalan giants recorded only one win in last five matches in all competitions and, as a result, Atletico Madrid managed to melt their advantage in the La Liga standings to just three points. Luis Enrique’s troops failed to score in previous two games and they head into Sunday’s game against Valencia following the loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Leo Messi and Co. have been misfiring of late, but the clash against los Che could be the turning point for the Catalan outfit. Barca will be fully focused on the national championship in the remainder of the season and, no doubt, Luis Enrique will count on the MSN trio for the Barcelona game. The reigning champions do not face a tough fixture list in days to come, but they must run out of the complacency they showed in a 1-0 loss to Estadio Municipal de Anoeta at the weekend.
Arda Turan misses the match through suspension, but Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez should be recalled to the starting line-up after they were rested in the game against Real Sociedad.
Signs of improvement
New boss Pako Ayestaran marked his Valencia debut with a loss to Las Palmas, but the Spanish tactician and his men gave fans some cheer at the weekend as they managed to defeat Europa League winners Sevilla at their Estadio de Mestalla. Thanks to the triumph over Unai Emery’s troops los Che moved away from the danger zone, but they have yet to secure the top flight survival. Pako Ayestaran’s men have been struggling on the travels this season and, with Barcelona next, I do not believe that the visitors are capable of recording their only fifth away of the season. Alvaro Negredo came as a substitute and scored the winner against his former club at the weekend and it remains to be seen if the former Manchester City forward is going to be recalled to the starting XI. Anyhow, los Che face an uphill task in Sunday’s game against the defending champions.
Coach Pako Ayestaran has no fresh injury worries and he is likely to field the same starting line-up that faced Sevilla. Jose Gaya has overcome his injury and he is pushing for a start.
Quick Facts
- Barcelona scored 15 goals in last five home fixtures in La Liga
- Barca outclassed Valencia 7-0 in their last meeting at Camp Nou (Copa del Rey)
- Valencia are on a three-game losing run on the road
- Los Che fialed to beat Barca in last five meetings between the two teams
- Over 2.5 goals were scored in nine of Barcelona’s last ten league games
Barcelona vs Valencia betting tip
Barcelona have no other choice but to go all-out attack against Valencia on Sunday evening. The league leaders aim to bounce back from the shocking 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad and seeing that Luis Enrique is going to field the best possible side against los Che, I am tempted to put my money on the star-studded hosts this time out.
Tip: Barcelona/Barcelona
Odds: 1.50 (1/2) @Betfair
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Daily Specials
| Event | Promotion | Claim | Expiring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership | Leicester to win the league is 3/1 | Claim | Limited |
| N'castle v Man City | Man City to win is 8/1 | Claim | @19:45 |
| Europe | Real, Atleti, L'pool, Man U is 16/1 | Claim | Wednesday |
| Man Utd v Palace | Man Utd to win is 4/1 | Claim | Wednesday |
| L'pool v Everton | Liverpool at 5/1 or Everton at 12/1 | Claim | Wednesday |
| Arsenal v WBA | Arsenal to win is 4/1 | Claim | Thursday |
