Barcelona vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-25 20:00.
[p]Barcelona were involved in one of the Champions League’s craziest matches on Tuesday, coming from 4-2 down to beat Benfica 5-4, with the result at least providing a welcome tonic after going four La Liga matches without a win (D2, L2). As they sat in third after the last matchday, they’ll need the positive mentality manager Hansi Flick lauded in midweek, but certainly not the calamitous defending that almost led to their downfall.[/p]
[p]La Blaugrana approach their first home league game of 2025 having lost their last three and the last time they were winless across four such home fixtures was a run that ended in September 2003. The Catalans will be hoping that the visit of Valencia is not a bad omen as they were one of the sides that beat them during that sequence, although since then Barcelona have dominated home H2Hs in this competition (W13, D5, L2).[/p]
[p]Valencia’s Carlos Corberán will approach his first managerial visit to the Nou Camp buoyed by guiding his side to a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W3, D1) including a much-needed 1-0 league win over Real Sociedad last weekend. Still inside the bottom three, they remain in touch with the rest of the division despite winning fewer La Liga games (three) than any other side this term.[/p]
[p]With all three of those victories coming at home, it’s easy to see why they are big outsiders for this clash, especially as all four of their points on the road (D4, L6) have come against sides starting this round in the bottom half. A lack of goals has hurt Los Che in particular as they haven’t scored more than once on the road in La Liga this term.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Raphinha’s match-winner against Benfica was his fifth goal across his last four appearances for Barcelona, all of them coming after the 30th minute. Luis Rioja may also come into the contest later on, as all four of his goals this La Liga season were recorded beyond the opening half-hour following his 61st minute strike in Valencia’s last away game (D 1-1 vs Sevilla).[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Barcelona haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine La Liga games (W2, D3, L4).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]