Barcelona vs Real Valladolid Prediction: La Liga Match on 28.08.2022

After dropping two points in their opening match of the season, Barcelona bounced back with a 4-1 win away to Real Sociedad. Xavi Hernandez’s men will be looking to make it two back-to-back wins in La Liga when they host Real Valladolid on Sunday at the Camp Nou at 18:30 GMT.

 

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Match Preview

Can Barcelona make it two wins in a Row in La Liga?

Fresh from holding Manchester City to a 3-3 draw in a friendly at the Camp Nou, the  Blaugrana will host Valladolid on Sunday looking to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga as they look to step up their season and challenge at the top of the table.

This match comes as Xavi integrates most of his new signings into the team; therefore, attention will be on making sure there is a balance between the new signings introduced into the team and their ability to perform.

 Xavi will also be looking to get the first win in front of the home crowd, which makes the clash with Valladolid important. 

Can Valladolid Cause an Upset at the Camp Nou?

Valladolid will be looking for their first win of the season; they have started their campaign with a draw and a loss, which means they have just a point out of the available six.

The Valladolid manager, Pacheta, will be looking on working on his defense, which has conceded four goals in two outings in La Liga already.  

The defense will especially be important coming up against a revamped Barcelona attack that is boasting the services of Robert Lewandowski.

Pacheta will also seek to sharpen his attack, which has scored just a solitary goal in two outings in the league.

Form Guide

Barcelona

Barcelona managed a blank in their opening match of the season against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou, with the match ending in a 0-0 stalemate. Barcelona’s misery was compounded when Sergio Busquets was sent off in the 93rd minute of a tough match.

Xavi’s men had to respond after dropping two points in a match they were expected to win. They responded emphatically away from home in a 4-1 win against Real Sociedad.

The Blaugrana had to come back from behind, after conceding the Alexander Isak in the 6th minute. Goals from Robert Lewandowski (a brace), Ousmane Dembele, and Ansu Fati helped seal an emphatic win.

Real Valladolid

Valladolid opened the season with an emphatic defeat at home to Villarreal. They conceded in the 49th minute (Nicolas Jackson) and an Alex Baena brace (81st and 90th minutes). 

Their second match, away at Sevilla, ended in a respectable 1-1 draw. After taking the lead in the 80th minute through Anuar Mohamed Tuhami, Valladolid could not hold on for the win, conceding a Karim Rekik goal in the 88th minute.

Both teams had a player sent off in the 88th minute, with Valladolid’s Jawad El Yamiq and Sevilla’s Marcos Akuna both seeing red. 

Possible Starting Lineups

Barcelona

ter Stegen; E. Garcia, A. Christensen; R. Araujo; Gavi, F. de Jong; A. Balde, F. Torres, Pedri, O. Dembele; R. Lewandowski

Real Valladolid

Asenjo; S. Escudero, J. Yamiq, J. Sanchez, L. Perez; K. Perez, R. Mesa, A. Aguado; Anuar, S. Guardiola, I. Sanchez

 

Players to Watch

R. Lewandowski

The 34-year-old Polish striker has already grabbed 2 goals in La Liga in two outings for Barcelona. He has acclimatized to life in La Liga and Barcelona quickly which bodes well for the Blaugrana. 

The striker is the lynchpin for Xavi’s new-look team; he offers presence upfront, movement, intensity, and lethal finishing.

Lewandowski will be crucial for Barcelona when they take on Valladolid on Sunday; his connection with Barcelona’s other attackers and wide players has been crucial, and it will be central in creating and taking chances on Sunday.  

Anuar

Anuar scored the goal that earned Valladolid a vital point at Sevilla. His work rate and intensity are crucial for Valladolid.

His work down the wide areas in attack and defense is central to the way Pacheta likes his team to be set up and play. He will be central to the defense and organization of the team against a lethal Barcelona attack.

Prediction

Barcelona will be on the front foot dominating possession and bossing the midfield area. They will seek to use quick passing and counter-pressing to create chances for their attacking players.

Valladolid will play on the counter. They will focus on being solid and compact at the back, deny Barcelona any space or gaps to exploit, and attack with pace whenever there is a turnover of possession.

Barcelona are the heavy favorites to win this match and take all three points given their form and the fact that they are playing at Camp Nou.

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