Valencia-Barça La Liga match guide: schedule, where to watch it and lineups
The blue and reds want to take advantage of Real Madrid's stumble to place themselves as sole leaders
BarcelonaIt is only the fourth matchday of the League, but Barça could end it as the sole leader. If the blue and reds are able to take the three points at Mestalla, they will arrive at their Champions League debut (Wednesday the 9th at 6:45 PM against Feyenoord) in the top position of the table. The defeat of Real Madrid at the Betis field leaves Hansi Flick's team as the only side that can secure victory in the first four matches. Before that, however, they will have to overcome Valencia, who arrive with bad feelings after falling to Deportivo de la Coruña (3-1).
The hours leading up to the duel have been marked by the absence of Lamine Yamal in the final training session before the clash. The winger from Rocafonda has traveled to the Valencian Community, but he trained apart from his teammates due to a knock. Gabriel Jesús is the main novelty in the squad, while Gavi –already recovered from the knock received in Elche– is also available for Hansi Flick. The coach assured that the heat will not be an excuse. "We have to focus on what interests us. It will be tough and we know it won't be easy, but we want to win". With the squad now closed, the German also confirmed that Raphinha will be the first captain, followed by, in order, Pedri, Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine Yamal.
Both teams arrive at the duel with completely different dynamics. The 'blaugranes' have nine points out of a possible nine, twelve goals for – an average of four per match – and only two against, while the Valencians have yet to taste victory this season. After a goalless draw at Celta's ground, defeats against Betis (0-1) and Deportivo de la Coruña (3-1) have called into question the figure of coach Carlos Corberán.
Barça is missing Frenkie de Jong –who is suffering from a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee– and Roony Bardghji –with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee–. In contrast, Corberán will not be able to count on Guido Rodríguez, Justin de Haas, Sadiq Umar, Luis Rioja, José Copete, Diego López or Dimitri Foulquier. Harvey Elliott, a player on loan from Liverpool, could make his debut.
Schedule and venue for the Valencia-Barça match
The match will be played this Sunday at 4:15 PM at Mestalla (Valencia).
Where to watch today's match (television)
The duel between Catalans and Valencians can be watched on television through the Movistar platform via the LaLiga TV Bar and M+ LaLiga channels. It can also be followed live on ARA minute by minute.
Probable lineups for the match
Valencia CF (5-3-2): Stole Dimitrievski, Pablo Maffeo, Arnau Martínez, Mouctar Diakhaby, César Tárrega, Jesús Vázquez; Pepelu, Filip Ugrinic, Javi Guerra; Ryunosuke Sato and Arnaut Danjuma.
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, Gerard Martín, Joao Cancelo; Pedri, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo; Karim Adeyemi, Raphinha and Anthony Gordon.
Referee: Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos (Castilian-La Mancha Committee) and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz (Galician Committee) at the VAR.
