Valencia Vs Barcelona
Valencia Vs Barcelona Sunday 20 February, 2022 – 15:15 (GMT)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Draw & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 18/5
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 18 February 2022)
Preview: In last season’s corresponding La Liga encounter in Valencia, there was no shortage of drama. Barcelona storming back to win 3-2 as the contest came to life after the half-time interval following a scoreless first period. Will Sunday’s Mestalla meeting be another slow burner?
Spanish La Liga Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Valencia – Home comforts Los Che’s saving grace?
Any faint aspirations the club and its loyal supporters harboured in relation to qualifying for Europe next season are diminishing at a rate of knots. In fact, they could very well struggle to better last season’s modest 13th-place finish unless this team can miraculously rediscover the art of winning matches again. Last week’s 2-1 loss away to relegation-threatened Alaves a sixth consecutive winless La Liga outing (D2 L4).
Half of that barren run comprises matches at the Mestalla, where Los Che have claimed two of the last nine points. They were left frustrated in the latest of those, a goalless draw with Real Sociedad. However, that result does mean they approach Sunday’s fixture – one they have lost once as hosts in the past four seasons – having been beaten just once in front of their own fans in nine La Liga home games (W2 D6).
Key Stat: Both teams scored in nine of Valencia’s previous ten La Liga contests, and in five of the past six La Liga home games.
Barcelona – Progress being made but inconsistency lingers?
New Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez named a strong line-up for Thursday’s Europa League first-leg encounter versus Napoli at the Camp Nou, vindicated with another superb display from his new team who dominated proceedings throughout. This wasn’t reflected in the final score, though. Held by the Italians to a 1-1 draw despite being clear winners on xG (2.14 to 0.94). On another night, they win comfortably.
It is harsh but the main reason there is still have work to do ahead of the return leg is down to Ferran Torres. A winter signing from Man City, Torres’ finishing left a lot to be desired and he is still searching for his first La Liga goal. Barca certainly hope their big-money attacker can find that elusive goal this weekend as it would increase the likelihood of them extending an eight-match unbeaten La Liga sequence (W4 D4).
Key Stat: Since the appointment of Xavi as new Barca head coach, the Catalan club are yet to lose in seven La Liga away games (W3 D4) – five of which saw both teams score.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Valencia Vs Barcelona Betting Advice
With both teams equally adept at conceding goals as they are scoring them, we should be in for quite the spectacle at Mestalla on Sunday. Valencia host this fixture during an undoubted lull period, having not won in six straight La Liga fixtures (D2 L4). Los Che remain stubborn opponents on their own turf, however, where they have tasted defeat once in nine such matches (W2 D6) going back to September.
Valencia Vs Barcelona – Key Facts:
- Across their last four La Liga visits to Valencia, Barcelona have won only once (D2 L1) though it was the most recent – a 3-2 victory in May 2021.
- Valencia have suffered one loss across their last nine La Liga home games (W2 D6). They face a Barcelona side with three wins out of seven La Liga away games (D4) under Xavi.
- Both teams scored in 9 of the last 10 Valencia La Liga matches and 5 of their last 6 as hosts. Meanwhile, Barcelona has scored and conceded in 7 of 11 La Liga games under Xavi, including 5 out of 6 away from home.
Nevertheless, Barcelona begin as favourites. While results continue to be inconsistent under the new coach the quality of Barca’s football has improved no end with only a lack of cutting edge in the attacking third letting them down for the most part. However, until we see that consistency, it is difficult placing much faith in a team with more draws (4) than victories (3) in La Liga away games since appointing Xavi.
Best Betting Odds – Valencia Vs Barcelona
Valencia – 13/5 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 5/2 (BetVictor)
Barcelona – 21/20 (Bet365)
