Barcelona vs Valencia preview

February 18, 2012
By: Frank Beresford

Even if they are now ten points behind Real Madrid, Barcelona have got to try and beat Valencia and thus restore some of the lost confidence before the crucial Champions League battles.

The Catalans virtually said goodbye to the La Liga title as they were beaten by Osasuna last weekend, meaning they can now fully focus on the Champions League and Copa del Rey campaigns.

Pep Guardiola’s side did well to record a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last 16 stage tie, and they are now hoping to continue the good run by beating Valencia.

Barcelona may be hot favourites to win this clash, but at odds of 1.29 (2/7) offered by Ladbrokes, they are simply not worth backing.

Pep Guardiola faces a real selection headache seeing that Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano are both suspended for this clash.

Gerard Pique is set to return to the side, but Xavi Hernandez remains doubtful after missing the last two matches through injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Valdes – Montoya, Pique, Puyol, Abidal – Thiago, Busquets, Iniesta – Sanchez, Messi, Fabregas.

Valencia may be unable to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona, but los Che are still regarded as the best of the rest in Spanish La Liga.

The team currently sit in 3rd place, eight points behind Barcelona and as many in front of fourth-placed Levante, so it is perfectly clear that they will stay there come end of the season.

Los Che were eliminated by Barcelona in Copa del Rey semi-final, after recording a 2-0 defeat at Camo Nou and they are now hoping to improve on that showing.

With Barcelona missing quite a few important defenders and struggling for form, odds of 1.91 (10/11) offered by Stan James on Valencia to score look too good to pass.

Unai Emery’s side are brimming with confidence after the Europa League victory over Stoke, but they will have to make do without Ever Banega, who misses out through a knee injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Alves – Miguel, Rami, Ruiz, Alba – Costa, Albelda – Feghouli, Jonas, Piatti – Soldado.

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