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Daniel Panero
Sábado, 25 de enero 2025, 16:41
Barcelona faces Valencia with the mission to shake off the negative vibes that have haunted the Blaugrana in La Liga. While the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, and Champions League have shown that Flick's team hasn't forgotten how to play football, they still need to find their rhythm in the domestic league. The Catalans have only secured 6 points from the last 24 available, casting a shadow over a team facing a crucial match against Valencia at Lluis Companys. Winning is the only option from now on, hoping that Real Madrid and Atlético drop points. This is the new reality for a Barcelona seeking to rejoin the title fight.
The team is aware that they squandered their early-season advantage in November, but they also know the season is long and opportunities remain. Flick's side clings to this hope, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. In just two weeks, they've thrashed their eternal rivals, scored five against Betis, endured a nail-biting match in Da Luz, and stumbled against Getafe. The result is a team that still believes in itself but needs to prove it in La Liga as soon as possible.
That's why the match against Valencia is so crucial for Flick, who knows his team's margin for error is shrinking. "You might think we drop 5 or 10 percent in La Liga. We didn't finish the match against Getafe with three points because of our own mistakes; we didn't play well, we weren't focused. That needs to change. We must be focused from start to finish," said the German coach, who also warned it will be "a demanding match."
To overcome their league slump, Barcelona can fully focus on Valencia. Flick's side has a Champions League match against Atalanta next Wednesday, but they arrive with a spot in the last 16 secured, only needing to ensure the best possible group position. This lesser objective eases Flick, who can field a strong lineup against Valencia, albeit with changes from his usual starting eleven. Iñaki Peña might return to goal after Szczesny's errors in Lisbon, Araujo will start in defense alongside Cubarsí, and there will be changes in midfield and attack, where Pedri and one of the attacking trio might rest in favor of Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres.
Facing them is a team that has been living on the edge for months but visits Lluis Companys with the hope of confirming the positive feelings from the last matchday. Valencia secured a crucial victory against Real Sociedad, which doesn't pull them out of crisis but offers a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season. The "Che" team clings to this as they visit Barcelona, knowing they'll need their best version to cause an upset. "I see a very competitive Barcelona. They come from a comeback away in the Champions League. They are a complete opponent with their possibilities, and we will focus on our game," analyzed Carlos Corberán.
The Valencian coach marked a month in charge this week and hopes to celebrate by earning points in one of the league's toughest stadiums. He will have all his players available except for the injured Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia, with doubts over Rafa Mir and Sadiq. These absences will affect the lineup, which might change structure against a strong opponent, but Luis Rioja and Hugo Duro will certainly be the main threats to Barcelona.
Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde, Casadó, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, and Raphinha.
Valencia: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Tárrega, Yarek, Gayà, Javi Guerra, Barrenechea, Almeida, Diego López, Hugo Duro, and Rioja.
Referee: Soto Grado (Rioja Committee).
Stadium: Lluis Companys.
Time and TV: 21:00 h. DAZN.
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