Barcelona vs Valencia

29/4 @ 20:00 (GMT+1)

Barcelona, teetering on the brink of surrendering their La Liga title, are poised to salvage some pride as they face Valencia at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Monday night.

Having slipped 14 points behind Real Madrid in the league standings, Barcelona's European aspirations took a hit with a 2-1 loss to Real Betis. The recent defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain further weakened their grip on the Spanish crown, amidst the controversy of a contentious Clásico match.

Despite the uproar over disputed goals and the threats of legal action, Barcelona's mood has shifted slightly. Head coach Xavi, who had initially announced his resignation earlier in the season, unexpectedly decided to stay on for the 2024-25 campaign.

While Barcelona's recent form showed promise after Xavi's initial departure announcement, their hopes took another hit with the Clásico loss and Real Madrid's subsequent victory. Nevertheless, Barcelona has found some solace in their recent home form, winning three consecutive La Liga matches.

Valencia, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their pursuit of European qualification after a defeat to Betis. Their recent resurgence has been notable compared to their struggles in previous seasons, although their record against Barcelona hasn't been favorable.

Injuries plague both sides, with Barcelona losing key players like Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde, while Valencia's defensive line is depleted with Mouctar Diakhaby and Jose Gaya sidelined.

As the two sides prepare to face off, Barcelona may field Pedri to replace the injured De Jong, while Valencia's lineup remains unchanged from their recent defeat to Betis.

Projected Lineups:

Barcelona:

Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Pedri, Christensen, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Valencia:

Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Vazquez; Canos, Pepelu, Guerra, Lopez; Duro, Almeida