Valencia vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Valencia vs Barcelona on and what time does it start? Valencia vs Barcelona will take place on Saturday 16th December, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Valencia vs Barcelona? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Valencia vs Barcelona on in the UK? Valencia vs Barcelona will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Valencia vs Barcelona in the UK? Valencia vs Barcelona can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
VALENCIA
Ruben Baraja pulled off a miracle in keeping Valencia in La Liga last season and it appears that the former Valencia player is about to maintain their top-flight status again against the odds with continued off-field issues and fan unrest. They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting firmly in the middle-of-the-table after 16 matches.
They do, though, come into this one on the back of some poor recent form with just one point collected in their last four La Liga matches. They were beaten by a goal to nil in a typically fiery ‘Jose Bordalas derby’ against Getafe in Madrid last weekend, having only just edged past Arosa in the second round of the Copa del Rey a few days before.
BARCELONA
Barcelona’s performances have remained underwhelming throughout the last year and a half, despite results remaining so good that they comfortably won the Liga title last season. The Blaugrana named a strong side in midweek but were still embarrassed by losing 3-2 away to Belgian champions, Royal Antwerp.
The defending Spanish champions begin the 17th match day of the 2023/24 campaign sitting seven points behind their regional rivals, Girona, at the top-of-the-table. Their most recent league outing saw them make the short trip to Girona and lose by four goals to two, making it just three wins in their last nine matches across all competitions.
THE TEAM NEWS
VALENCIA
Valencia have a few availability issues for this weekend with both Gabriel and Javi Guerra suspended, whilst Jose Luis Gaya is out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Diakhaby, Gasiorowski; Foulquier, Pepelu, Amallah, Perez; Lopez, Hugo Duro
UNAVAILABLE: Gabriel (Suspended), Guerra (Suspended), Gaya (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Almeida (Injured)
BARCELONA
Barcelona have several injury concerns for the visit to Mestalla with the likes of Inigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Cancelo; Pedri, Romeu, Gundogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Joao Felix
UNAVAILABLE: de Jong (Injured), Martinez (Injured), Alonso (Injured), Gavi (Injured), ter Stegen (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These are two teams that are in flux at the moment. Valencia look likely to over achieve this season by entirely avoiding a relegation battle but the home team have still managed just one victory in their last six La Liga matches. They now face a Barcelona side that have been really underwhelming of late and that continued with their defeat to Antwerp. Barca have had a lack of control over matches this season but they will seek to sit back at Mestalla so a low-scoring encounter, regardless of whether or not the Catalans can grind out victory, seems very likely.
TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS
