Football

Barcelona vs. Valencia Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Preview

17-03-2017 - Neymar Barcelona BPI Icon Sport

Valencia face a daunting task on Sunday when they travel to the Camp Nou to play Barcelona. They’re sat in 13th place in the table and are in mixed form. They’ve won just one of their last four games, with one draw and two defeats, one being a comprehensive 3-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.

On the other hand, Barcelona could finish the weekend at the top of La Liga if results go their way. They’re sat just two points behind rivals Real Madrid, however if Madrid lose and Barcelona win, then Los Blaugranas will finish the weekend at the top of the table. However, they have played one game more than their arch rivals.

Recent form would suggest that Barcelona have been going well, with five draws and one defeat in their last six games. The 6-1 demolition job of Paris St. Germain in the Champions League would have been the highlight of that run, however they followed it up with a disappointing defeat away at Deportivo La Coruna last weekend. With speculation still mounting over Luis Enrique’s position at the end of the season, it would be a disaster for him if their season was to end in poor fashion.

Barcelona vs. Valencia Predictions

Looking at the odds, the form and Barcelona’s necessity to win this game, it seems very unlikely that Valencia will leave the Camp Nou with anything.

Barcelona vs. Valencia Betting Tips

Barcelona are solid favourites at home, priced at 1/9, while Valencia are massive underdogs at 16/1. The draw is priced at 9/1. Lionel Messi leads the goalscoring market at odds of 23/10 to score first, while Luis Suarez is at 2/5 to score anytime against Valencia.

Head to Head

  • Barcelona have lost just two of their last 19 league games against Valencia (W12 D5).
  • Luis Enrique’s side have won their last six league games at the Camp Nou, scoring 4.1 goals per game.
  • Valencia have won just one of their last 10 La Liga away games (D3 L6).
  • Luis Suarez has scored seven goals in his last five games against Valencia in all competitions, including his first four-goal haul for Barcelona.
  • Lionel Messi has scored more goals against Diego Alves than against any other goalkeeper in his career at Barcelona (19 in all competitions).

Barcelona Team News

Aleix Vidal is a long-term casualty at Barcelona and will miss out again, while Jeremy Mathieu and Neymar are also both doubts for the game.

Valencia Team News

Nani, Rodrigo Moreno and Santi Mina will all miss out on the trip to the Camp Nou, while Mario Suarez is doubtful.

Words by @dominictrant