Valencia vs Barcelona Prediction and Preview – 05/12/15
La Liga preview – Valencia vs Barcelona prediction
Valencia will be forced to field a weakened team for Barcelona’s visit to Mestalla with right back Joao Cancelo and central midfielder Javi Fuego suspended for seeing red in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Sevilla. The situation was not helped when Zakaria Bakkali, Santi Mina and Sofiane Feghouli visited the treatment room in midweek but all three are expected to be patched up in time for the arrival of La Liga champions. Andre Gomes, Pablo Piatti and Antonio Barragan are doubtful while Alvaro Negredo, Shkodran Mustafi, Rodrigo Moreno and Diego Alves are long term absentees.
Sergi Romero is the only major injury concern for Barcelona. The 23-year-old midfielder came off limping in the 6-1 Champions League triumph against Roma and may be saved for the trip to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany next Wednesday. Second choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stagen received a knock in training and may not make the bench on Saturday while Douglas Pereira and Rafinha remain sidelined having played little part this season.
Possible Line-ups
Valencia: 4-5-1 formation: Ryan; Santos, Abdenour, Gaya, Vezo; Feghouli, Perez, Danilo, Parejo, Mina; Alcacer
Barcelona: 4-3-3 formation: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Statistics
- Valencia have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Barcelona have won 9, drawn 1 and lost 0 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Valencia have scored an average of 1.8 goals and conceded an average of 1 goal per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Barcelona have scored an average of 3.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.3 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Valencia’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Atletico Madrid’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Valencia’s unbeaten home record in La Liga comes under threat on Saturday when Salvador Gonzalez Marco’s side, weakened by injury and suspension, face the deadliest strike force on the planet. Valencia’s three home wins and one of three draws came against the bottom four sides in the league and Deportivo La Coruna is the only top six side to visit Mestalla this term, for a 1-1 draw in August.
Barcelona have slipped up twice on the road this season, losing 4-1 against Celta de Vigo and 2-1 at Sevilla. However they’ve won all six league games since the reverse in Sevilla at the beginning of October including the 4-0 victory against title rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last month. El Clasico marked the return of Lionel Messi from injury and Barca have slammed 14 goals in three games he has featured with Neymar and Suarez since his comeback.
Barcelona have not lost at Mestalla since 2008. They won by a one-goal margin on their two previous visits but expect a more convincing score line given Valencia’s personnel problems.
Tips
Barcelona to win at 1.33 with William Hill
Barcelona to win nil at 31/20 with BetVictor
Barcelona to win 3-0 at 21/2 with 888sport
What are your predictions?
Click here to see more La Liga previews, predictions and tips