Catalan giants Barcelona will look to build on their recent win when they take on Real Valladolid in La Liga this Sunday.
Barcelona are coming into this game on the back of a 4-1 win away from home against Real Sociedad, and Xavi Hernandez’s side will be full of confidence heading into this contest.
The Catalan giants were held to a goalless draw at home in their opening game of the season against Rayo Vallecano, and it remains to be seen whether they can get back to winning ways at Camp Nou this week.
Barcelona struggled considerably last season, and they will be desperate to make amends this time around. Xavi Hernandez has strengthened his squad significantly over the summer transfer window, and anything less than a title challenge will be considered a massive disappointment for Barcelona this term.
The home side will have to beat teams like Real Valladolid in order to challenge Real Madrid for the title, and the home fans will be expecting a big result here. Barcelona are currently fifth in the league table after picking up four points from two league matches. Meanwhile, Real Valladolid are 17th in the standings, and they will be massive underdogs heading into this contest.
However, the visitors will have seen how Rayo Vallecano managed to grind out a draw at Camp Nou, and they will hope to pull off a similar result this weekend. Real Valladolid managed to pick up a draw and defeat from their first two league matches, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset here.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
La Liga will allow Barcelona to register Jules Koundé ahead of their match on Sunday vs. Valladolid without having to sell any players, reports @gerardromero pic.twitter.com/rUFoHwp4yv
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 26, 2022
Barcelona will be the favourites heading into this contest against Real Valladolid, and the fact that there are no major injury concerns for the home side means that they will look to put on a proper show here.
Summer signing Jules Kounde is likely to be involved in the game after the Frenchman was registered by the club. Meanwhile, Sergino Dest has not been registered because of a potential transfer away from Camp Nou, and the full-back will miss out Sunday’s contest against Real Valladolid.
As far as the lineup is considered, summer signing Andreas Christensen is expected to partner Kounde at the heart of Barcelona’s defence. Ronald Araujo and Jordi Alba are likely to take up the full-back roles on Sunday.
Meanwhile, youngsters Pedri and Gavi are likely to support the experienced Sergio Busquets at the heart of Barcelona’s midfield. Summer signings Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will be a part of the front three alongside Ousmane Dembele.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele
Real Valladolid
The visitors will probably have to play out of their skin to get a positive result here, and the absence of Shon Weissman and Gonzalo Plata could make life difficult for them. Shon Weissman is sidelined due to a muscle injury suffered in the pre-season. Gonzalo Plata is injured as well.
Meanwhile, Jawad El Yamiq will not be available after picking up a red card against Sevilla. Pacheta will line his side up in a 4-3-3 formation against Barcelona, with Sergio Asenjo starting between the sticks.
Javi Sanchez and Joaquin Fernandez will pair up at the heart of the Real Valladolid defence, with Sergio Escudero and Luis Perez starting as the two full-backs against Barcelona.
Alvaro Aguado will have the responsibility of keeping thing tight in the middle of the park and will receive defensive support from Roque Mesa and Kike Perez. Perez will also aim to provide the forward thrust from the midfield for Real Valladolid when the opportunities present themselves.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Asenjo; Luis Perez, Sanchez, Fernandez, Escudero; Kike Perez, Aguado, Mesa; Tuhami, Leon, Sanchez
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won 14 of their last 15 meetings with Real Valladolid in La Liga (L1), last losing against them in March 2014 (0-1 away).
- Barcelona have won each of their last eight La Liga home games against Real Valladolid, averaging more than three goals per game during this run (3.4). Since the start of the 2008/09 campaign, against no other side have Barcelona scored more times at home than against Real Valladolid in the competition (40, as many as Osasuna and Sevilla).
- Real Valladolid have failed to win their last 14 matches (La Liga).
- Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six matches against Real Valladolid in all competitions.
- Real Valladolid have conceded four goals in their two league matches so far this season.
Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski
The 34-year-old Polish international put on a masterclass against Real Sociedad and scored a brace for his new club. Lewandowski will certainly be the man to watch out for when Barcelona host Real Valladolid this weekend.
The away side have been mediocre defensively so far this season, and Lewandoski has all the qualities to exploit their defensive frailties and punish them thoroughly. The former Bayern Munich striker will be looking to add to his tally of goals and guide his side to a comfortable win here.
Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Real Valladolid
Barcelona are the far better side in terms of quality, and they will be full of confidence and momentum after their impressive performance against Real Sociedad. Robert Lewandowski will have gained a lot of confidence after scoring two goals in the last outing and will look to punish a Real Valladolid defence that has conceded four times in the last two matches.
Furthermore, Barcelona have an exceptional head-to-head record against Real Valladolid, having won the last six meetings against the visitors. This should be another walk in the park for them, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 3-0 win for Xavi Hernandez’s charges.