Valencia vs Barcelona prediction and betting tips on December 16, 2023
Oliver White
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Matchday 17 in La Liga presents a thrilling encounter between Valencia and Barcelona on Saturday, December 16th. The clash will unfold at Mestalla, kicking off at 21:00 Central European Time.
Valencia
In recent years, Valencia has solidified its status as a mid-tier team in Spanish football, but breaking away from that status seems challenging. The club remains far from the level it held a decade or so ago, and talk of contending for titles has been absent for around two decades. With 16 matches played, Valencia has collected 19 points, positioning them 11th in the La Liga standings. There's a considerable ten-point gap between them and the European qualification zone, yet they maintain a decent distance from the relegation zone.
Barcelona
Under Xavi's guidance, Barcelona faced a 4-2 defeat against Girona in their recent match. It was an intense battle, and it's fair to say that Barça's loss wasn't undeserved. Following the match, Xavi praised the opponent but didn't address his team's unremarkable performance. Barcelona's recent results indeed leave much to be desired. While sitting comfortably in fourth place, they trail the league leaders by seven points, a situation not meeting the club's usual expectations.
Interesting Match Facts and History of Personal Meetings
- Valencia has won only one match in their last five outings.
- Barcelona has suffered defeat in their previous two matches, conceding a total of seven goals.
- Barcelona has emerged victorious in their last five encounters against Valencia.
Prediction
While the visitors are expected to be the favorites, betting on their outright victory seems risky. In my view, goals might be scarce in this game, so I'll opt for a bet on the under 3 goal total.
