Welcome to the opening weekend of March, and we have some tantalising matches to look forward to in Spain, with games of note played from Friday through to Monday. Armchair fans will be delighted by the live TV coverage, which brings us several games from the Spanish top flight. Sunday’s schedule consists of four games between 13:00 and 20:00, with both title rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid in action. Plenty keeps us entertained this Sunday, and our team of football writers previews the best of the action. You’ll find previews, prices, and predictions on what’s to come.
This page focuses on the match played at the Camp Nou between Barcelona and Valencia, which is set for a 15:15 GMT start. This will be the league leaders’ second big game of the week after facing Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey earlier this week. The league leaders suffered a rare defeat last weekend, and there will be a few tired legs in the camp after El Classico. Is Barca in danger of dropping more points and allowing Blancos back into the title race? Can Valencia take advantage to score a win at the Camp Nou, something their fans aren’t able to enjoy too often?
Sunday’s meeting of Barca and Valencia will be the second time the pair have clashed this season, and if the previous game is anything to go by, we should prepare for a thrilling and competitive 90 minutes. Barcelona won the reverse of this fixture in Valencia courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline. The winning goal in that game came from Robert Lewandowski, who found the net with 90 minutes on the clock as Barca staged a late smash and grab on the victory. Fans expect a more accomplished performance here, but will the locals deliver?
Barca suffers a rare off-day
Barcelona may have been dumped out of both the Champions League and Europa League at the earliest opportunity, but they remain one of the most impressive teams in Europe. The club lost Lionel Messi to PSG last season and was forced to move several other players out of the club in a desperate attempt to make ends meet after being hit by crippling sanctions for breaking financial fair play rules. They did manage a top-four finish last term, but it was better than many fans had feared after watching their side stumble through the opening exchanges of the season.
A day in the life of a Barcelona supporter has been much brighter this season with the team back on track. Despite their mounting off-field problems, Barcelona is enjoying itself on the field of play. They sit on top of La Liga after 23 games played, with their stats for the campaign showing 19 wins, two draws, and a pair of defeats with 45 goals scored and only eight conceded. The league leaders may not be the most free-scoring version of themselves this year, but they do have the best defence in the league, and that’s paying off nicely.
If they can hold their ground, this will be remembered as one of the most important league titles in the club’s history. But they did end on the losing side of the result last weekend when suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat to Almeria on the road. That was a game the leaders were expected to win quite comfortably, but a goal denied them another three points from Toure with 24 minutes played. Despite having most of the game to get back on level terms and creating plenty of chances, Barca could not get off the mark to claim at least a share of the spoils from that road trip. Better is expected of them here.
Valencia won last time
It has been a woeful season for Valencia, and it could be about to get a lot worse. The visitors arrive at the Camp Nou knowing their opponents are desperate to get back to winning ways following a difficult few weeks at home and in Europe. No team welcomes a trip to this venue, especially when the hosts are in a menacing mood, but that’s what Valencia must prepare for on Sunday. They face a huge challenge if they are to score back-to-back wins, but this La Liga season is becoming more unpredictable every week.
Look away now if you’re a Valencia fan as we read over the team’s stats for the season to date. They arrive in town sitting third from the bottom of the league and looking like they could be relegated come the finish line. Losing their La Liga membership is something that would financially cripple Valencia, and that’s something everyone connected to the club knows they must avoid at all costs. Easier said than done when away to Barcelona, but there’s no doubt Valencia is under pressure.
They have won six, drawn five, and already lost a dozen matches, scoring and conceding 27 goals. The visitors did lose four of their last five but claimed an overdue and crucial win last time when beating Real Sociedad 1-0 at home. For a group of supporters that had celebrated just six wins all term, that was a welcome respite from a horrible season. Two wins on the bounce could lift them from the danger zone, with Valencia just two points behind Sevilla in 14th. Plenty of life remains in this season, but time is against Valencia if they are to pull clear of the relegation places.
Barcelona v Valencia prediction
Barca lost last time, and their opponents were in winning form, but the locals hold all the aces here. They are top of the league and looking like a champion in waiting. They also have the backing of a home support, which could be enough to see them claim all three points.
La Liga odds
Barcelona is 1.49 for the win with Valencia 6.5 and the draw 4.38. There are also over 100 pre-match and in-play markets available in this contest.
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