Predicted starting XI: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, Pedro Valencia CF Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team is on an improving course, although their last five games do not reflect that. They have managed to draw against Atlético, Málaga and Espanyol, and narrowly lose to Celta and Atlético in their away game of the Copa del Rey. Contrary to FC Barcelona, they have been very active during this winter’s transfer window, which closes in a few hours. Other than the surprising departures of Hélder Postiga (Lazio) and Andrés Guardado (loan to Bayern Leverkusen), Dorlan Pabón (loan to São Paulo) also left earlier this week, all in the hope of getting more playing time before the World Cup. In the other direction came Eduardo Vargas from Napoli, and ex-Barça jack-of-all-trades, Seydou Keita, who joins for free from Chinese side Dalian Aerbin FC. The former Mali international isn’t the last of the new recruits, with reports of a deal being struck between Valencia and Cruzeiro for the promising 20-year-old attacker, Vinícius Araujo. However, while Vargas is included in the squad, the Malian is not, and the young Brazilian has still not been officially registered and presented as part of the squad. They also signed for free from Fulham 29 year old Swiss defender Phillipe Senderos. Former Barça B youngster, Oriol Romeu, makes his way back to Camp Nou after leaving two and a half years ago, but he is unlikely to start, having sat out Valencia’s most important games against Atlético in the Copa. With the departure of Postiga, Jonas is likely to start ahead of Paco Alcácer in attack, while Vargas might make an appearance as a substitute. Pizzi has stated on Friday that, “We know very well how Barcelona play and we will try to mould our style of play to frustrate their attacks – then attempt to impose our will on the match.” Predicted starting XI: Guaita, Barragán, Ricardo Costa, Jérémy Mathieu, Sofiane Feghouli, Juan Bernat, Javi Fuego, Parejo, Míchel, Federico Nicolás Cartabia, Jonas Prediction As Tata said, “We’re facing a very difficult team, and we’ll need be on our best form.” This can be applied to any team that the blaugrana has to face, but he said it because it really applies to Valencia, who can deliver a surprise with their tough fighting attitude on the pitch, an attribute which has made life hard for all of their opponents this term.
Barça’s first game against Valencia in the third round ended in a hard fought 2-3 win for the Catalans. There is nothing to suggest that this game will not be tough again, other than the blaugrana’s home record of ten wins out of ten. Although the outcome is expected to be in favor of the home side, Valencia will not make it easy. However, with a win FC Barcelona will ramp up the pressure on the two teams from Madrid, who at last play their fixtures after the Catalans play theirs. Here’s to hoping for some daylight in the table between Barça and their challengers.
