Barcelona will be aiming to record their first La Liga victory since the start of December when they host Valencia on Sunday night.
The Catalan giants have only won one of their last eight in Spain's top flight, which has seen them drop down to third spot in the La Liga table, currently seven points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Valencia are 19th, only picking up 16 points from their 20 matches during the 2024-25 campaign, but Los Che will enter this clash in strong form.
Match preview
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Barcelona will enter Sunday's clash off the back of a 5-4 victory over Benfica in the Champions League, and the result secured their spot in the knockout round of the competition with a game to spare.
Hansi Flick's side have also won the Spanish Super Cup this year, beating Real Madrid 5-2 in the final, in addition to securing their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 5-1 success over Real Betis.
However, Barcelona are struggling in La Liga, only winning one of their last eight, with their last success in Spain's top flight proving to be a 5-1 victory over Mallorca at the start of December.
Since then, they have drawn with Real Betis and Getafe, in addition to losing to Leganes and Atletico Madrid, and the Catalan team are third in the table, five points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid and seven from leaders Real Madrid.
Barcelona are the leading goalscorers in La Liga this term, finding the back of the net on 52 occasions, but they are finding it difficult to put wins on the board in the league, and another poor result this weekend could potentially put them out of the title race.
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Valencia have a record of three wins, seven draws and 10 defeats from their 20 La Liga matches this season, with a total of 16 points leaving them in 19th spot in the table, four points from the safety of 17th position.
Los Che will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this game, though, with that set of results including successes over Eldense and Ourense CF in the Copa del Rey, with the team present in the quarter-finals of the competition against Barcelona.
Valencia have picked up four points from their last two league games, meanwhile, drawing 1-1 with Sevilla in their last away match before beating Real Sociedad 1-0 in front of their own supporters last time out.
The six-time Spanish champions are going in search of their first La Liga win over Barcelona since January 2020, while not since April 2016 have they overcome the Catalan team away from home in Spain's top flight.
Earlier this season, Barcelona were 2-1 winners at Mestalla, but Valencia will be the fresher of the two teams ahead of this match, and there is certainly enough quality in Carlos Corberan's squad to pick up a vital win on Sunday night.
Team News
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Barcelona will be without the services of Inigo Martinez, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to injury problems, while Pedri is unavailable for selection due to illness.
Inaki Pena is likely to be back between the sticks on Saturday, having dropped down to the bench against Benfica, while Fermin Lopez could replace Pedri, but it might otherwise be the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle of the European contest.
Robert Lewandowski has scored six times in four appearances against Valencia since arriving at Camp Nou, and the experienced forward will again feature in the final third of the field on Sunday night.
As for Valencia, Cristhian Mosquera is suspended, which is a huge blow for Valencia, as he is regarded as one of the best young defenders in La Liga, with Real Madrid said to be among his admirers.
Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia are both injured, but Los Che have not reported any fresh fitness blows, and it is expected that head coach Corberan will name the majority of the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Sociedad.
Yarek Gasiorowski - another highly-rated young defender - is expected to be introduced into the starting team, while there will be a spot through the middle for Hugo Duro, who has scored six times in La Liga during the 2024-25 campaign.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Gavi; Yamal, F Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Gasiorowski, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; D Lopez, Almeida, Rioja; Duro
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Valencia
Valencia appear to have turned a corner, with their performances this year being strong, and we are expecting Los Che to make this a tricky match for Barcelona. That said, the Catalan outfit should be able to navigate their way to a very important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
