Valencia vs. Barcelona: Does the trend of both clubs continue?
English week for FC Barcelona. After the Europa League opener against Napoli (1:1), the tough trip to the Mestalla is coming up. On Sunday afternoon (16:15), Barcelona host Valencia FC.
After two games without a win in the league and Europa League, Xavi’s men are looking for a win, but the Mestalla is traditionally a tough place to play. A look at the odds for Valencia vs. Barcelona reveals that Barça are naturally favourites to travel to Valencia, but three points are not a foregone conclusion.
Valencia – Statistics & current form
There are of course good reasons why FC Barcelona are favourites going into the game. Not only because the fourth-placed team in the table is visiting the twelfth-placed team. Although the gap in the standings is quite large, the points difference is not. Barça only have nine points more on their account. With a home win – and generally a few good results in the coming games – Valencia could quickly sniff their way back to the international places.
They have lost a bit of ground recently, which is due to a negative streak. Valencia has been waiting for a win for six games. A good run was followed by a bad one – because before that, Valencia had gone seven games without a defeat from matchday 12 to 19. Now they have been waiting for a three-point win since matchday 19.
Negative run in La Liga: Valencia’s tough programme
Valencia FC is not really in good form at the moment – which is one of the reasons why the prediction of a win for the visitors in the Valencia vs. However, it should be noted that Valencia has had a series of difficult opponents recently. For example, the bats played Real Madrid (1:4), FC Sevilla (1:1), Atletico Madrid (2:3) and Real Sociedad (0:0) – all top 6 teams in La Liga.
The fact that they did not win these games is therefore less surprising. What was really disappointing was the defeat last matchday at third-last Deportivo Alaves, where Valencia lost 1:2. Before the next opponents are all from the lower reaches of the table, Valencia have another top team in front of them in the form of Barça.
For those who believe ‘Los Che’ will end their negative run against the Catalans, Valencia vs Barcelona odds of up to 3.75 on the home win are available
Predicted line-up of Valencia:
Mamardashvili – Correia, Alderete, Comert, Gaya – Foulquier, Soler, Guillamon, Gil – Duro, Guedes
Last matches played by Valencia:
LaLiga
02/13 2022 – Deportivo Alaves 2 – 1 Valencia
Copa del Rey
02/10 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 1 Valencia
LaLiga
02/06 2022 – Valencia 0 – 0 San Sebastian
Copa del Rey
02/02 2022 – Valencia 2 – 1 Cadiz
LaLiga
01/22 2022 – Atletico Madrid 3 – 2 Valencia
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
If we also look at FC Barcelona’s form curve, it is of course much more positive than Valencia’s – as it is the exact opposite. Barça are unbeaten in La Liga for seven games.
However, there have also been draws – most recently two in a row, one in La Liga on the last matchday in the derby against Espanyol (2:2), the other on Thursday in the Europa League against SSC Napoli (1:1). In both games Barcelona were even behind, especially at Espanyol Xavi’s eleven could be glad to have snatched a point at all, the equalising goal by Luuk de Jong coming in the 96th minute.
FC Barcelona have problems in defence
The Blaugrana have shown great improvement of late, but remain fragile and vulnerable – especially defensively. So it comes at an inopportune time that Barcelona have rows of suspensions and injuries in this part of the team in Valencia. Right-backs Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué are both suspended, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are injured, and Ronald Araujo is also in danger of missing the game against Napoli due to a muscle blister.
Xavi will have to rebuild his already fragile defence – Barça have conceded nine goals during their seven-game unbeaten run. What makes the situation even more difficult is Barça’s weakness away from home this season. The Spanish vice-record champions have only won three of their twelve away games.
If you believe that Barça can now win their fourth away match, you can get odds of mostly over 2.00 on Valencia vs. Barcelona.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
Ter Stegen – Dest, Mingueza, Garcia, Alba – Busquets, De Jong, Gavi – Traore, Torres, Dembélé
Last matches played by Barcelona:
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – Barcelona 1 – 1 SSC Napoli
LaLiga
02/13 2022 – Espanyol 2 – 2 Barcelona
02/06 2022 – Barcelona 4 – 2 Atletico Madrid
01/23 2022 – Deportivo Alaves 0 – 1 Barcelona
Copa del Rey
01/20 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 3 – 2 Barcelona
Valencia – Barcelona Tip
A look at the last ten direct duels reveals: This duel is mostly very competitive and high-scoring. In eight of the ten matches, goals were scored on both sides, and the spectators saw a total of 34 goals, or 3.4 goals per match. Therefore, bets on both sides to score or on over 2.5 goals are naturally very close.
We opt for the prediction on a small combo for Valencia against Barcelona, which gives us nice odds: ultimately bet on the trend for both teams to continue.
Given Barcelona’s improved form and simultaneous defensive problems as well as Valencia’s current weak phase, this is not an unrisky but a very interesting tip for us.
