Valencia vs Barcelona prediction and betting tips - August 17, 2024
In the first match of the new La Liga season, Valencia will face Barcelona. The game is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, with a kick-off at 21:30 Central European Time. Dailysports experts have prepared a prediction for this encounter.
Valencia
Last season, the Bats finished ninth in the La Liga standings, amassing 49 points over 38 rounds. In preparation for the current season, Valencia played seven friendly matches. The results were inconsistent: three victories, two draws, and two losses. The Bats haven't made significant reinforcements during this summer's transfer window. They brought in three players on loan while releasing five as their loan terms expired.
Overall, Valencia's performances in recent years have been underwhelming. The last time they participated in European competitions was in the 2019/20 season, and they haven't finished higher than ninth since. Despite this, Valencia remains one of Spain's most storied clubs, having won the national title six times in their history, with their last triumph in 2004. In the historical ranking of the top division, the club ranks fourth, behind only Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona
The Catalans ended last season in second place, trailing the champions by ten points. Barcelona failed to win either the Copa del Rey or the UEFA Champions League. Following such a season, the club's management decided to change the head coach. German specialist Hansi Flick replaced Xavi. Under the new coach, Barça signed two players, with the most expensive being midfielder Dani Olmo, acquired from RB Leipzig for €55 million. Additionally, eight players departed from the blaugrana team.
Barcelona played five friendlies ahead of the season's start, winning twice and losing three times. Notably, Barcelona will be without several key players at the start of the new season. Due to injuries, Gavi, De Jong, Fati, and Pedri will miss this match. Moreover, it's uncertain whether Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gündogan will participate, as both left the field early due to injuries in their last friendly.
Barcelona is the most decorated club in Spain in terms of total official trophies—77, including 27 La Liga titles, 31 Copa del Rey victories, 14 Supercopa de España, 2 Copa de la Liga, and 3 Eva Duarte Cups.
Interesting facts and personal encounters
- The last head-to-head encounter between Barcelona and Valencia was a high-scoring affair, with the Catalans emerging victorious with a 4-2 scoreline.
- Valencia has lost 5 of their last 7 matches. Barcelona has secured victory in 16 of their last 21 matches.
- Valencia has not beaten Barcelona in their last 8 meetings.
Valencia vs Barcelona prediction
Both teams had an unconvincing end to their summer preparations for the new season. Moreover, Barcelona is plagued by numerous injuries, and they conceded eight goals in their last four friendlies. This highlights their evident defensive issues. Therefore, I believe both teams will score. The odds for this are 1.78.
