Valencia vs Barcelona: Match preview, team news and prediction

Valencia vs Barcelona: Match preview, team news and prediction

Hassan Abdulsalam 08:40 - 16.12.2023

This match promises to be an intense clash, with both teams eager to bounce back from their recent disappointments.

The upcoming La Liga match between Valencia and Barcelona is set to be a thrilling encounter, scheduled for December 16, 2023, at the Estadio de Mestalla. Both teams are experiencing a challenging phase, with Valencia being winless in their last four league games and Barcelona suffering two consecutive defeats.

 Currently, Valencia stands at the 11th position with 19 points from 16 matches, while Barcelona, the defending champions, are fourth with 34 points.

Team News and Tactics

Valencia will miss Jose Gaya and Andre Almeida due to injury, along with Gabriel Paulista and Javi Guerra who are suspended. They are likely to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, focusing on a compact defense and utilizing the width provided by Fran Perez and Dimitri Foulquier. Diego Lopez and Hugo Duro are expected to lead the attack.

Valencia vs Barcelona
Valencia vs Barcelona Valencia vs Barcelona

Barcelona, on the other hand, will be without Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inigo Martinez, and Marcos Alonso. They might see the return of Frenkie de Jong. Their expected formation is a 4-3-3, with Inaki Pena in goal and a defensive line including Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Joao Cancelo. The midfield might feature Pedri, de Jong, and Ilkay Gundogan, with an attack led by Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Joao Felix.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head

Barcelona's recent form includes a 3-2 defeat to Royal Antwerp in the Champions League and a 4-2 loss to Girona in La Liga. Despite these setbacks, they topped their Champions League group. Historically, Barcelona has dominated the head-to-head record, winning 31 out of 59 matches against Valencia, who have won 12. Notably, Valencia has lost their last five La Liga matches against Barcelona.

Analysis and Predictions

Valencia's strategy will likely focus on solid defense and effective counterattacks, while Barcelona is expected to control possession and leverage their attacking prowess. Both teams have vulnerabilities, especially in defense, which could lead to a high-scoring game. Predictions mostly favor Barcelona, with a common expectation of a 2-1 victory for the Catalans. This could be a close match, but Barcelona's superior quality might give them the edge.

Betting Tips

Given the recent form and playing styles of both teams, betting tips suggest a Barcelona win with over 2.5 goals scored in the match. It is also anticipated that Barcelona will score first, and there's a good chance for Joao Felix to be among the goal scorers.

Valencia vs Barcelona
Valencia vs Barcelona Valencia vs Barcelona

Conclusion

This match promises to be an intense clash, with both teams eager to bounce back from their recent disappointments. Barcelona, despite their recent struggles, have the quality to secure a win, but Valencia will certainly not make it easy, especially playing at home. Fans can watch this eagerly anticipated fixture on various sports broadcasting networks and live-streaming platforms.

Time and Where to watch

The match time is 9pm WAT and for Nigerian viewers, it's best to check local sports channels for live coverage closer to the match, like SuperSports

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