FC Barcelona welcome Valencia CF to their home in sunny Catalonia as they look to face off against each other at the Spotify Camp Nou. A match that could dictate massive consequences ahead, this one should definitely be one to keep your eyes on.
Match Details:
Date: Sunday, 05th March 2023
Competition: La Liga Santander
Matchday: 24
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou
Time: 04:15 pm Central European Time
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas
Match Overview:
A game between the top-placed team in La Liga Santander coming up against the 19th-placed team in the Division, on paper it seems to be quite the one-sided affair. However, as has been proved multiple times in recent weeks, the league positioning seems to be nothing more than an accumulation of points when the day of the game actually arrives.
For once the whistle blows, it’s those 90 minutes themselves that dictate who the better team on the day was, not the points they’ve won prior to it.
Given this viewpoint, FC Barcelona would be wise to approach this game not underestimating Valencia to any degree whatsoever. Against Almeria, they did just that and wasted a golden opportunity to extend their league at the top. Now, they have no more room for such errors, they must ensure their winning ways continue.
Prior to this match, FC Barcelona head into this game with 4 wins and a defeat in their last 5 La Liga matches. However, they have won their most recent game in all competitions against none other than Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu no less. As has always tended to be the case, an El Clasico victory can help the winning team in the long run when it comes to a renewed and revitalized mentality and confidence.
On the side of Valencia CF, things have looked quite dire in contrast. 4 defeats and a singular win see the trend of a worrying season continue for the side from the city of Valencia. Sitting at 19th and facing the huge threat of relegation, the team has 23 points from 23 games, having 6 wins, 5 draws, and 12 defeats across the season thus far.
FC Barcelona will be hoping to come away with a victory from this clash, despite the key absences of not just a handful of their main players but also of their manager Xavi Hernandez himself who will have to watch from the stands due to suspension.
A win here would temporarily take the Catalans 10 points ahead of 2nd-placed Real Madrid, who would be playing Real Betis away from home just a few hours later.
