Introduction
Brief overview of the upcoming match between Barcelona and Valencia in the 2023-24 La Liga season, highlighting the significance of the game and the teams’ current standings.
Match details
- Competition/Round: 2023-24 La Liga, Matchday
- Date/Time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Tuesday)
- Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea
- VAR: Santiago Jaime Latre
Team News:
Barcelona’s squad for the Valencia clash is not without its concerns. Midfield maestro Frenkie de Jong, rising star Gavi, and promising youngster Alejandro Balde are all ruled out due to various injuries. Their absence will be felt, particularly in midfield, where Barcelona will need to find suitable replacements.
On the other hand, Valencia will be without the services of Mouctar Diakhaby, who is sidelined due to injury. Additionally, the availability of José Gayà is doubtful, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Valencia’s lineup for the match.
Match preview:
Following a painful defeat in El Clásico that effectively ended their defense of the La Liga title, Barcelona return to action for a rare Monday Night Fútbol match as they welcome longtime rivals Valencia to the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium in the final game of Matchday 33. The loss to Real Madrid was a bitter pill to swallow for Barça fans, as it dashed any hopes of a miraculous comeback to secure the championship. However, with a full week of rest and training, Barcelona aims to bounce back against Valencia and finish the season on a high note.
In the wake of the defeat, there have been significant developments off the pitch for Barcelona. Manager Xavi Hernández, who had previously announced his intention to leave in the summer, shocked fans by confirming that he will remain the first-team coach next season. This decision provides stability and continuity for the club, allowing them to focus on reshaping the squad for the upcoming campaign.
Barça’s focus now shifts to the summer transfer window, where they aim to address key weaknesses in the squad. Securing a higher position in the league table is not just about pride but also about financial gains. Finishing in second place offers additional prize money and a spot in next year’s Spanish Super Cup, providing Barcelona with the resources needed to strengthen the team.
Xavi and his troops must ensure they’ll finish ahead of Girona in the standings, and the two face each other next week in a giant Catalan derby that will go a long way in deciding who ends the season as runners-up. And if they want to go into next week’s clash ahead of their local rivals, Barça must win on Monday.
But it won’t be easy. The consecutive losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid had a massive psychological impact on the club as a whole, and having to play the final six games of the season knowing they don’t matter too much can be a real trap for a team. Barça had a very poor finish to last season after clinching the league title, and there is danger of letting go of the rope again with the guarantee of a trophyless campaign.
This specific game is more about the mental side than tactics: if Barça have managed to recover from the emotional damage caused by the last two losses, they should be good enough to win now that the squad is healthier and most of the players had been in excellent form prior to last week’s disaster.
But if they’re still struggling to move on from the events of the last 10 days, Valencia will be ready to pounce: Los Che have been a historically tough opponent when they travel to Catalonia, and always manage to play close, hard-fought, low-scoring games in Barça’s home.
They’re also having a strong season and are still dreaming of a place in Europe next year, and an upset at Montjuïc would go a long way in helping their continental chase. Rubén Baraja has done a marvelous job coaching a young, hungry team that is very well organized at the back and knows what to do with the ball, crafting good counter-attacks and offering serious danger on set pieces.
Indeed, Valencia has a reputation for being a formidable opponent, especially when they play away matches in Catalonia. Barça must exhibit professionalism and mental fortitude to secure a victory and claim three crucial points ahead of their pivotal final clash with Girona next week.
As the stage is set, it’s time for Barcelona to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of their stature. Let the game begin – it’s time to dance.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Cancelo; Christensen, Pedri; Yamal, Gündogan, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Valencia (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Özkacar, Gayà; Pepelu, Guerra; Pérez, Almeida, López; Duro
How to Watch:
- TV Broadcast: ESPN Deportes (USA), TSN 1 (Canada), Premier Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), Sports18 (India), others
- Online Streaming: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), DAZN (Spain), others
Predictions:
Barcelona welcome Valencia to Catalonia on Monday night with a determined resolve to finish the season as strongly as possible, aiming to keep the pressure on Real Madrid until the final game week. Despite trailing Real by eleven points at the top of the table, Barcelona are keen to maintain their position, holding just a two-point lead over Girona in third.
In the reverse fixture between these two teams in December, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Joao Felix and Hugo Guillamon finding the back of the net. Valencia has only managed two wins in their last five matches, as they have continuously trailed the European spots since the early weeks of the season, mirroring Barcelona’s pursuit of Real Madrid from second place since the turn of the year. However, Barcelona currently leads the league in expected goals (xG) generated this season, demonstrating their ability to create scoring opportunities consistently.
Valencia should approach this match cautiously, knowing that securing a draw, as they did in the previous encounter, could be considered a satisfactory result. However, Barcelona’s undefeated streak of seven matches against Valencia in all competitions presents a formidable challenge for Los Che.