Barcelona vs Valencia
Barcelona welcome Valencia to the Camp Nou this weekend, but once the players cross the white line the Blaugrana will have revenge in mind.
Los Che beat Barca in the 2019 Copa del Rey final in their last meeting, and that will play on the minds of Ernesto Valverde’s team.
The Barca head coach hopes that his squad will finally include Leo Messi. The Barca talisman has been absent through injury in the champions’ first three games, which have yielded a modest four points.
The early La Liga table has an unfamiliar look, with the Blaugrana down in eighth place with just one win from three and on the same points as Valencia.
The early season La Liga 2019 betting odds installed Barcelona as clear favourites. But with Atletico Madrid making a good start again, this is a game Valverde’s side needs to win to avoid a gap at the top from opening up.
But Valencia are a tough challenge, boasting a talented squad with plenty of incentive. They have a new boss to impress after Marcelino was sacked to make way for Albert Celades.
Talking Points
Messi and Suarez could be fit
Fans at the Camp Nou can reasonably claim that missing some big players has had a negative impact on their La Liga 2019 results so far, but there could be good news on the way.
Officials at Barcelona are said to be optimistic that both Messi and Luis Suarez could be fit to face Los Che this weekend. And that would be a major boost for Valverde.
Neither was in training at the beginning of the week, but with Borussia Dortmund awaiting Barca in their Champions League opener, they are in a race against time.
Valverde won’t risk either unless they are fully fit. He is willing to bide his time following the recent performance of his big summer recruit.
After dominating the La Liga transfer news over the close season, Antoine Griezmann got off the mark with a brace in a home 5-2 win over Real Betis, and when he does link up with Messi and Suarez that will be one heck of a front three.
Celades in the hot seat
They don’t mess about at the Mestalla! After taking four points from three games and having a row with owner Peter Lim, Marcelino has been sacked. The coach who led Valencia to a Champions League place is no more; he has been replaced by Albert Celades.
The 43-year-old has a fine pedigree: a former Spain U21 coach, he was assistant to Fernando Hierro at Russia 2018, and now he has signed a two-year deal at Valencia. Seeing that out will be a good achievement in itself!
Celades has inherited a more than useful squad. Marcelino’s last gift to the club was to sign Maxi Gomez, who switched from Celta Vigo to Valencia over the summer having scored 13 league goals last season.
They are also skippered by Dani Parejo, who has two goals already this term. Los Che have quality running through the team, from Dutch international keeper Jasper Cillessen to midfielder Denis Cheryshev, who had a spectacular Russia 2018, and the ever-dangerous Kevin Gameiro.
After a successful campaign last year, Valencia are in the UEFA Champions League and in a group they could navigate. They are likely to contest second place in Group H, which also has Ajax, Lille and Chelsea.
Celades has plenty on his plate in his first week.
History
Formed in March 1919, this is Valencia’s centenary year. They are six-time La Liga champions and won their eighth Copa del Rey in May, when goals from Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno gave the underdogs a famous win over Barcelona.
Gameiro is already off the mark this season and will be a thorn in Barca’s defence.
The Blaugrana lead the head to heads with 31 wins to Valencia’s 13 and there have been 17 draws. Valencia have failed to win at the Camp Nou in their last four attempts.
Both games ended in draws last season: 1-1 at the Mestalla and 2-2 at the Camp Nou.
Betting Tip
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Barcelona vs Valencia | First Half Over 1.25 @ 2.02 |
| September 15, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
The latest SBOBET odds have Barca priced at 1.46 to win while the draw is at 4.10. Valencia are at 7.20 to come up with another surprise win.
This game has it all: a revenge mission for Barca, a new head coach for Los Che, the possible return of a hero or two and three priceless points up for grabs.
I think there will be goals in this, probably for both teams, and I expect goalmouth action from the off.
A repeat of last season’s result, 2-2, is at 18.00.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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