FC Barcelona vs Valencia : Match preview
Valencia will attempt to pile even more misery on a wounded Barcelona team when Los Che visit the reigning Spanish champions in Sunday night’s Barcelona vs Valencia La Liga contest at Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona vs Valencia : Match preview
Barcelona have lost their last two matches in the league to blow the title race wide open, while they have also been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid back on Wednesday night.
Valencia have only won one of their last five games in the league, but that success came last time out as Pako Ayestaran picked up his first win at the helm – a 2-1 home success over Sevilla.
Entering week 33, Barcelona hold a tentative three-point lead over second-placed Atletico and a four-point lead over third-placed Real Madrid, but both of the Madrid squads have very winnable matches this weekend. On Saturday, Real Madrid will travel to Getafe, and Atletico host Granada on Sunday.
In theory, Barcelona’s lead could be cut to mere one point by the time they take to the field against Valencia, but the Catalan outfit have been very solid at home this season – winning 14 of their 16 league matches and losing just one. They have also netted 55 times at Camp Nou in the league and have conceded just 12 times in the process.
Lionel Messi, however, is currently on his worst run of scoring form for a span of five years. The Argentine has not scored in his last five games for Barcelona and was once again really out of sorts against Atletico. Neymar and Luis Suarez have also hit an uncomfortable dry patch and all three will be keen to return to their usual best this weekend.
Enrique’s side will face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final just next month, but they cannot really afford to take their eye off the ball in the league at all.
