Real Valladolid vs Barcelona match preview and predictions for Tuesday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Ronald Koeman’s side look for a more convincing away performance.
- DATE: Tuesday 22nd December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 22:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Jose Zorrilla
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Real Valladolid vs Barcelona Preview
Barcelona travel to the Jose Zorrilla on Tuesday night, in need of three points as they bid to stay in touch with the Madrid clubs at the top of LaLiga. The Catalans are 8 points behind leaders Atleti having played a game more heading into Tuesday, and they really need to start delivering on a more consistent basis if they want to play any part in this title race, particularly with Real Madrid having hit some form.
Real Valladolid are quite capable of making a real game of this. They’ve found a bit of form of late and head into this match having suffered just one defeat in their last six matches, winning three. That includes a hard-fought draw at Sevilla last time out with left-back Raul Garcia’s late goal rescuing a point for Sergio’s side.
Despite their resurgence, Real Valladolid are still in the relegation zone heading into the midweek action in LaLiga. However there are certainly reasons for the hosts to be more encouraged now with summer signings such as Shon Weissman and Fabian Orellana starting to find their feet and their attacking output has improved as a result.
Barcelona’s return of 10 points from their last 6 games is one fewer than that of their opponents. They dropped more points at the weekend, drawing 2-2 at home to Valencia and even if they were to win every remaining home league fixture this season, they’d only equal last season’s points tally at Camp Nou.
That seems doubtful the way they are playing and worryingly for Ronald Koeman, opposing teams appear to have found a clear way to play against them. Pack the middle of the pitch and give Barcelona the flanks seems to be the clear way to combat a Barca side that is stacked full of number 10’s but lacks both natural width and a convincing striker.
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Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 5 Barcelona Wins, 1 Real Valladolid Win.
- Barcelona have won on 5 of their last 6 trips to the Jose Zorrilla.
- They’ve won 1-0 on their two visits since Real Valladolid returned to the top flight in 2018.
- Barca have won all four league meetings since then, last losing to Real Valladolid in March 2014 at the Jose Zorrilla.
Team News
Centre-back Joaquin Fernandez is an injury doubt for the hosts who may rotate in some positions with Sergi Guardiola likely to return in attack.
Frenkie de Jong should return for Barcelona while Clement Lenglet is hoping for a recall at centre-back.
Predicted Real Valladolid Starting Lineup:
Masip – Garcia, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Hervias – Plano, Mesa, Alcaraz, Orellana – Andre, Guardiola (4-4-2)
Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup:
Ter Stegen – Alba, Lenglet, Araujo, Dest – De Jong, Busquets, Pedri – Braithwaite, Messi, Griezmann (4-3-3)
Real Valladolid vs Barcelona Predictions
Score Prediction: Real Valladolid 1-1 Barcelona
Real Valladolid will surely replicate the way other teams have set up against Barcelona and they are a team that is quite capable of at least frustrating the top sides. They may not have quite enough in the final third to really exploit the flaws in this Barcelona defence but Sergio’s side look capable of taking a point from the game.
Real Valladolid vs Barcelona Betting Tips (18+)
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