Barcelona are set to face Valencia in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night, looking to continue their impressive run in the competition. The match will take place at the Mestalla, where Valencia will be hoping to build on their recent resurgence under new manager Carlos Corberan.
Valencia secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo last weekend, showing signs of improvement under Corberan. However, they are still fighting to climb out of the relegation zone and face a tough challenge against Barcelona. The last time these two teams met on January 26th, Barcelona thrashed Valencia 7-1, highlighting the gulf in quality between the sides.
Valencia will be without Thierry Correia due to a long-term knee injury, but the rest of the squad is fit and ready for the match. Nigerian international Umar Sadiq, who recently returned from an injury, is expected to feature, while Hugo Duro will lead the line for Valencia.
Barcelona, despite their setback in the La Liga title race, have been in impressive form under manager Hansi Flick. They secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Alaves last weekend and remain unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions. Barcelona also cruised to a 7-1 win against Valencia last month, sending a clear message of intent.
Barcelona will be without Spanish international Gavi due to a head injury suffered in their last match. Dani Olmo is also sidelined with a muscle injury and is unlikely to feature. Robert Lewandowski, who has been in fine form this year with seven goals across all competitions, will lead the line for Barcelona, while Frankie de Jong could make a return to the starting lineup.
When considering the key factors for this match, it’s worth noting that Barcelona have dominated their recent meetings with Valencia, winning their last three encounters by an aggregate score of 13-4. Barcelona have also been successful in their previous five La Liga visits to the Mestalla, collecting 13 points. Valencia, on the other hand, have only suffered one defeat in their last six matches across all competitions.
In conclusion, Barcelona are expected to continue their dominance over Valencia and secure a victory. The odds for a Barcelona win and both teams to score are 7/4, making it an attractive bet. Olympusbet is the recommended bookmaker for this wager.
