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The script for Barcelona’s victory over Benfica was otherworldly, as the Catalans came back from a 4-2 deficit to win 5-4 in less than half an hour.
In fact, the Blaugrana made several mistakes on the night and were far from their best across the field. However, the win was a statement that they do know how to grind out ugly wins and that’s huge for the team.
Tomorrow night, they return to the field in La Liga, where they host Valencia at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company.
Their opponents on the night are currently struggling in La Liga and sit 19th in the standings, ahead of only Real Valladolid. However, they have won three of their last four games and enter the clash in decent form.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Valencia.
The first of the double head
In fact, Barcelona will face Valencia tomorrow in La Liga as part of matchday 21, but it will only be the first of two meetings between the two sides in the coming weeks.
While the league match between the two Spanish giants has been set for months, they were drawn in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals earlier this week and will therefore lock horns once again in the cup coming soon.
Tomorrow’s clash against Valencia will be at Montjuic, giving Barcelona the home advantage as they look to get back into the title race.
However, winning with momentum will be critical as they meet again in the first week of February at Mestalla in the Copa del Rey and the confidence they gain from tomorrow’s home clash will be the driving force for next month’s crucial game.
Earlier this season, Barcelona took home a 2-1 victory over Valencia at Mestalla with a Robert Lewandowski brace giving the team three points. They will look to do the same tomorrow and assert their dominance for the double header with a greater margin of victory.
Planned rotations
Hansi Flick’s men have been playing about two games a week for more than 20 days and the schedule shows no signs of slowing down.
In fact, the next time Barcelona will get a week off between two games is only after the clash against Sevilla on February 10 and the Blaugrana Have four games to deal with before that break.
The manager will therefore look to start implementing key rotations in the upcoming games and will start tomorrow against Valencia, as indicated by the film in his pre-game press conference.
To begin with, the coach noted that Pedri can start from the bench against Valencia because the team needs fresh legs. Therefore, it could be Marc Casado, who starts alongside Frenkie de Jong, who has impressed in recent games with his cameos.
The third player in midfield may still be Gavi, but it won’t be surprising to see Fermin López earn a start as part of Flick’s rotations.
The German coach will also look to rotate in defense, although in control, and Gerard Martin and Eric García can start the night. No changes are expected in the forward trio given the team’s pressing need for a win.
Urgency in La Liga
Barcelona simply hasn’t been in La Liga. Their tremendous form in the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey has not carried them into the league and qualification is now worrying.
Real Madrid have taken complete control of the league table and sit on 46 points after 20 games, a staggering seven points ahead of Barcelona.
The Catalans have been playing the best football, but their inability to convert it into points in La Liga has hurt them badly. Already seven points behind, it is crucial that they find their footing once again.
Having drawn against Getafe and dropped points in their last league outing, Flick’s men will be determined to take three points tomorrow night and catch up with the leaders.
Atlético Madrid dropping points against Villarreal will only motivate them even more, for a win tomorrow will take them within three points of Diego Simeone’s side and possibly four points behind the leaders should The Whites Drop points.
