La Liga: Valencia vs. Barcelona

Posted on | December 13, 2007 | 2 Comments

This is going to be a great game to watch, but not so great if you want to win some money. A very difficult game to predict, as Valencia at home are having something of a crisis of results and Barca away from the Nou Camp aren’t exactly lighting fireworks at the moment. Be prepared for a scrappy, stop and start game where the three points on offer for the winner could be worth their weight in gold at the season’s end.
Valencia really need this win, not only to get back up the table where they have slowly slipped from second to seventh, but also to give their fans a lift after crashing out of the Champions league after a dismal group stage phase. Their last game on Tuesday ended goalless away to Chelsea, with Goalkeeper Cañizares as the surprise hero who singlehandedly rescued a point with some amazing saves. On the down side, striker David Villa had to go off at half time with a foot injury and will be out until the New Year. Valencia have now gone five games without a win and have only won one home game since September. Even more worrying is their lack of goal. Not one goal scored in the last five matches and they have only found the back of the net in three of their last eleven games.
Barcelona are having a somewhat better time, although their away form is almost as bad as Valencia’s home form. Barca has just one away win in the league this season –which was against bottom club Levante- and seven points from seven away trips, scoring seven goals in the process. The good news is that they have qualified to the knock out stages of the Champions league by winning their group, and the last match against Stuttgart saw the return of Samuel Eto’o to his goal scoring best. Also back from injury is the young Mexican Giovani Dos Santos, who made his Champions league debut against Stuttgart by scoring the second goal.
This is practically an impossible match to predict. Both sides have their own problems, and both know the importance of the three points at stake. After this game Barcelona will play La Liga leaders and eternal rivals Real Madrid who are already four points clear. I’m going to plump on a draw for this game. The hostile atmosphere Barcelona will encounter in Mestalla won’t do them any favors, and their poor away form will definitely be an important factor.
Prediction: Draw: (0-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Barcelona vs. Valencia
2. La Liga: Zaragoza vs. Valencia
3. La Liga: Atlético Madrid vs. Valencia
4. La Liga: Osasuna – Valencia
5. La Liga: Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao

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