La Liga Preview: Valencia vs. Barcelona

Talk of a three-peat started to sound a little louder after Barcelona won at Mallorca this past weekend 3-0.  Now with all of that in mind, there are still 39 points up for grabs of which Barcelona would need 33 in order to claim their 21st league title.

Wednesday’s match at Mestalla will set the pace for the final third of the season.  Although Barcelona have a seven-point lead over Real Madrid coming into the match, the possibility of that lead evaporating is a huge possibility.   This is the first of four consecutive road matches the Blaugrana will have to overcome in order to claim their third consecutive league title. 

FOUR BIG ROAD MATCHES

March 2- Valencia

March 12- Sevilla

April 2- Villarreal

April 16- Real Madrid

What better situation would Valencia want to have prior to this match than to be in one of the best runs of form that they could remember ever since they last lifted the trophy back in 2003-04.   Los Chés know that this is their best chance to win for the first time since March 20th, 2008.

It will also mark the return of David Villa to Mestalla after his blockbuster summer move to the Nou Camp. 

"The three points from Sunday gives us a big boost because winning at the Cathedral is always very difficult," said Valencia midfielder Joaquín.

In addition to Villa, it will mark the return of both Xavi and Dani Alves to the starting lineup. Xavi missed this past weekend match against Mallorca due to a microtear in calf.  For Xavi this will be his 560th appearance in a Barce uniform.  Alves willa also make his return after serving a one-match suspension.

Meanwhile Valencia coach will be without the services of goalscorer Aritz Aduriz.  The Basque forward will be out for another three weeks with an ankle sprain sustained in last week’s draw against German side Schalke 04 in the Champions League.   Aduriz is the team’s second leading scorer with 13 goals in 30 matches so far this season. 

This will leave Roberto Soldado up top but will have a lethal threesome consisting of Joaquín, Juan Mata, and Pablo Hernández supporting him . 

If you add Ever Banega and even Jérémy Mathieu to the lineup, they could cause Barcelona fits especially on the counter.

The big controversy coming into the match was the behavior yet again shown by Valencia defender David Navarro.   Many looked at the reaction of a rather calm Fernando Llorente as all the evidence they needed in order to have Navarro suspended. 

Probable XI: 

Valencia:  (4-2-3-1)Guaitá, Stankevicius, Bruno, Navarro, Mathieu; Topal, Banega, Joaquín, Pablo Hernández, Mata; Soldado

Barcelona: (4-3-3) Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Villa, Pedro

LAST FIVE

VALENCIA

W- vs. Hércules  2-0

W- @ Atlético 1-2

D- vs. Schalke 04 1-1 (UEFA Champions League)

D- vs. Sporting 1-1

W- @ Athletic 1-2

BARCELONA

W- vs. Atlético 3-0

D- @ Sporting 1-1

L- @ Arsenal 2-1 (Champions League)

W- vs. Athletic 2-1

W- @ Mallorca 0-3