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Both teams are experiencing a challenging phase, with Valencia being winless in their last four league games and Barcelona suffering two consecutive defeats.
The upcoming La Liga match between Valencia and Barcelona is set to be a thrilling encounter, scheduled for December 16, 2023, at the Estadio de Mestalla.
Both teams are experiencing a challenging phase, with Valencia being winless in their last four league games and Barcelona suffering two consecutive defeats.
Currently, Valencia stands at the 11th position with 19 points from 16 matches, while Barcelona, the defending champions, are fourth with 34 points.
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17:48 - 15.12.2023
Real Madrid vs Villarreal: Match preview, team news and prediction
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17:29 - 15.12.2023
Ath. Bilbao vs Atl. Madrid: Match preview, team news and prediction
The match is poised to showcase a battle of tactics and skill, highlighting the strengths and recent forms of both teams.
Team News and Tactics
Valencia will miss Jose Gaya and Andre Almeida due to injury, along with Gabriel Paulista and Javi Guerra who are suspended. They are likely to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, focusing on a compact defense and utilizing the width provided by Fran Perez and Dimitri Foulquier. Diego Lopez and Hugo Duro are expected to lead the attack.
Barcelona, on the other hand, will be without Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inigo Martinez, and Marcos Alonso. They might see the return of Frenkie de Jong. Their expected formation is a 4-3-3, with Inaki Pena in goal and a defensive line including Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Joao Cancelo. The midfield might feature Pedri, de Jong, and Ilkay Gundogan, with an attack led by Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Joao Felix.
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Recent Form and Head-to-Head
Barcelona's recent form includes a 3-2 defeat to Royal Antwerp in the Champions League and a 4-2 loss to Girona in La Liga. Despite these setbacks, they topped their Champions League group. Historically, Barcelona has dominated the head-to-head record, winning 31 out of 59 matches against Valencia, who have won 12. Notably, Valencia has lost their last five La Liga matches against Barcelona.
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14:17 - 15.12.2023
Arsenal vs Brighton: Match preview, team news and prediction
Brighton's current form and historical success at the Emirates, an upset cannot be completely ruled out.
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13:31 - 15.12.2023
5 key points featuring Girona and the grueling battles for LALIGA title contenders - Preview
All the key details for LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 17, with Girona expected to take advantage of some tough challenges for the big boys.
Analysis and Predictions
Valencia's strategy will likely focus on solid defense and effective counterattacks, while Barcelona is expected to control possession and leverage their attacking prowess. Both teams have vulnerabilities, especially in defense, which could lead to a high-scoring game. Predictions mostly favor Barcelona, with a common expectation of a 2-1 victory for the Catalans. This could be a close match, but Barcelona's superior quality might give them the edge.
Betting Tips
Given the recent form and playing styles of both teams, betting tips suggest a Barcelona win with over 2.5 goals scored in the match. It is also anticipated that Barcelona will score first, and there's a good chance for Joao Felix to be among the goal scorers.
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Conclusion
This match promises to be an intense clash, with both teams eager to bounce back from their recent disappointments. Barcelona, despite their recent struggles, have the quality to secure a win, but Valencia will certainly not make it easy, especially playing at home. Fans can watch this eagerly anticipated fixture on various sports broadcasting networks and live-streaming platforms.
Time and Where to watch
The match time is 9pm WAT and for Nigerian viewers, it's best to check local sports channels for live coverage closer to the match, like SuperSports
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