Valencia showed notable improvement last season, finishing in a respectable 9th place after years of struggling in the lower half of the table. This progress has set the stage for the Blanquinegros to aim even higher this season, potentially eyeing a spot in European competitions.
To gear up for the new campaign, they arranged seven friendly matches, beginning with a 3-1 win over Benidorm, followed by a 0-0 draw against Castellon, and a close 0-1 loss to Alaves.
In contrast, FC Barcelona, who were crowned Spanish champions two years ago, had to hand over their title to their arch-rivals, Real Madrid, after losing both “Clasico” matches and finishing ten points behind the Madrid club.
It was a disappointing season for the Blaugrana, who also lost the Spanish Super Cup in a 1-4 defeat to Real Madrid and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Bilbao. However, they did make some progress in the Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals before being ousted by Mbappé’s PSG.
Now under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Barcelona is determined to re-establish themselves as a dominant force in global football.
Their preseason has included a 1-0 victory over Spanish third-division team Olot, along with tough matches against Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan during their tour of the United States. They are also set to play a prestigious Joan Gamper Trophy match against AS Monaco.
Valencia’s recent home games have rarely been low-scoring, with just four of their last 20 matches ending in clean sheets. Likewise, Barcelona’s away games this season have seen both teams score in only two out of ten matches, suggesting that a similar trend is unlikely to change in their upcoming clash.
Prediction
Barcelona appears to be in a strong position to compete for the LaLiga title this season, supported by an unbeaten run in their last seven away games, which includes five wins. On the other hand, Valencia has struggled recently, managing only two points from their last five matches.
Predicted Score: Valencia 0 : 3 Barcelona.
