Valladolid vs Barcelona: line-ups, score predictions, head-to-head record & more — preview

• Ronald Koeman has already revealed Barcelona’s 21-man squad for the clash.
• Unlike in the previous matches, Matheus Fernandes and Konrad de la Fuente haven’t been included.
• Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique and Ansu Fati are out injured while Ousmane Dembele still lacks match fitness.

Real Valladolid

• Real Valladolid won’t be able to count on Joaquin Fernandez, Saidy Janko, Javi Moyano and Kiko Olivas. (h/t SportsMole)

Key stats

• Out of the last five clashes between the two sides, Barca won four times while Valladolid got one win.
• Four of the last five matches ended 1-0, with the remaining game was a 5-1 win for the Catalans.
• Blaugrana have a poor away record in La Liga this term, recording one win, two draws, and three losses.

Probable line-ups

Barca XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets; Messi, Griezmann, Coutinho; Braithwaite.

Valladolid XI: Masip; Hervias, Bruno, El Yamiq, Garcia; Orellana, Mesa, Fede, Plano; Weissman, Maranhao (h/t SportsMole)

Managers’ quotes

Ronald Koeman (Barcelona): “You have to play a more regular game, being better with the ball and improving things without the ball. We must have maximum concentration during the game.”

Sergio Gonzalez (Valladolid): “Barca’s record tells us that away from home they aren’t as good as before, but they can click at any time. It is a team with great footballers and a huge offensive talent. Even so, we can have options [to win] for sure, because we have always competed, we have set the level and we have stood up against the greats.”

Predictions

SportsMole’s Matt Law: Valladolid 1-2 Barcelona

“Valladolid’s recent performances and indeed results have been encouraging, and it would not be a surprise to see them move clear of the relegation zone in the coming weeks. Barca desperately need to return to winning ways, though, and we fancy Koeman’s side to edge a close game on Tuesday night.”

LaLiaExpert’s Mark Sochon: 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.”