Barcelona will be facing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 in their third Spanish La Liga fixture and in order to keep the five-point lead over Real Madrid intact, the Catalan giants will try and win all three points.
Even though Tito Vilanova is currently banned from the sidelines, he will still try and win the difficult fixture against Valencia in order to lament the Supercopa de Espana loss against Real Madrid.
La Blaugrana got off to a fine start, beating Real Sociedad and Osasuna in La Liga, and winning 3-2 against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana.
However, things changed as Madrid won the second leg of the Cup tie and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 couldn’t lift the trophy right at the start of the season.
Even though Barcelona lost the Supercopa de Espana, Mourinho’s men are still five points behind Real Madrid, as they drew their fixture against Valencia, and lost against Getafe.
Now it is up to Barcelona to maintain this five-point lead, especially with a tough fixture with Valencia on this upcoming Sunday.
Team News: Barcelona
The home side are currently in an outstanding form when it comes to La Liga. They have won both their league fixtures against Real Sociedad and Osasuna.
After winning six out of six available points, Barcelona are currently sitting at the top of the table, but Valencia might be the side who can bring them down.
Tito Vilanova’s only problem is not that he will not be on the sidelines; in fact, he will have to go through a lot of selection crises as well.
The Catalan boss cannot play http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carles-Puyol-c8331, after he broke his cheekbone against Osasuna during the last La Liga fixture.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-c9879 Alves is out injured and he might not feature during this weekend fixture as well.
However, the young Spanish midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-c34888 Alcantara is back in training with La Blaugrana and Vilanova will have the opportunity to play him against Valencia.
Barcelona’s probable line-up against Valencia is:
Victor Valdes; Montoya, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alexis-Sánchez-c4979.
Team News: Valencia
Valencia are currently going through a mixed run of form. Even though they were able to start the league season perfectly, drawing their match against the current La Liga champions, but then they drew the game against Deportivo La Coruna as well.
Valencia are currently a side who perform better when they are under pressure, but the last time they won a match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp was back in 2003, when they won the Spanish La Liga as well.
It is going to be a tough game for the away side, who will be travelling to the Catalan fortress, the Nou Camp.
Valencia’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adil-Rami-c3639, might start for the Spanish side.
Moreover, the summer signing, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Gago-c13652, is also not match fit, therefore, he will be facing a race against time to start for the Spanish side.
In case Gago fails to start the game for Valencia, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Albelda-c10417 is going to feature for Valencia, and make his first appearance of the season.
Valencia’s probable line-up is as follows:
Alves; Pereira, Rami, Ruiz, Mathieu; Albelda, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonas-c18967, Guardado; Soldado.
Prediction:
Since Valencia have hardly managed to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp; therefore, this might be a one-sided game in favour of La Blaugrana, who might win this fixture 3-0.
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