FC Barcelona vs. Valencia
Barcelona welcomes Valencia to the Estadi Johan Cruyff, which has a capacity of only 6,000 spectators, after the reopening of Spotify Camp Nou has been delayed again. The Catalans, who are in fourth place in the table with seven points after three matchdays, go into this Sunday evening duel as overwhelming favorites. After the draw against Rayo Vallecano, where they had to accept a draw despite Yamal’s lead, Hansi Flick’s team wants to get back on the road to success. Valencia, on the other hand, are struggling with mixed form in 9th place, with their recent record against Barcelona looking alarming: no wins in their last five meetings, including a crushing 5-0 defeat in the Copa del Rey and a humiliating 7-1 defeat in La Liga. For Flick, the game could mark the return of Marc Bernal, while Carlos Corberán will be relying on the recently strong offense of Hugo Duro and Danjuma after a convincing 3-0 win over Getafe.
- Venue: Estadi Johan Cruyff, Sant Joan Despí
- Date and time: 09/14/2025, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 4)
Barcelona Form & Record Check
FC Barcelona’s current form is giving fans mixed feelings. With seven points from their first three league games, the club is in fourth place in the table, level on points with Villarreal and Espanyol. It’s a solid start, but the way they’ve performed shows that Hansi Flick still has work to do.
The draw against Rayo Vallecano just under two weeks ago revealed some weaknesses. Yamal gave the Catalans the lead from the penalty spot, but Fran Pérez equalized. Flick made two changes at halftime, showing his dissatisfaction with the first half. Lewandowski only came on in the 78th minute to replace Ferran Torres.
The two previous victories against Levante (3-2) and Mallorca (3-1) were much more convincing, with a respectable goal difference of 4-1 over the last few games. Barcelona has scored at least once in each of its last five games, usually before halftime.
However, the squad situation is a cause for concern. In addition to the long-term absences of ter Stegen, Gavi, and de Jong, Balde will also be out until early October. Eric García, on the other hand, has fought his way into the starting lineup under Flick and has started in all three league games. His versatility as a center back and right back makes him particularly valuable to the coach.
FC Barcelona are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which Hansi Flick prefers. Joan Garcia will make his debut in goal after ter Stegen remains sidelined with his back injury. The defense could feature Koundé, Eric García, Christensen, and Gerard Martín, with Balde yet to return from his thigh injury.
Casadó and Pedri are likely to form the center of midfield, while the attacking trio could feature Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha. Ferran Torres is likely to be preferred to Lewandowski up front. Both Gavi and Frenkie de Jong remain sidelined, with both struggling with persistent injuries that make their return uncertain.
Valencia Form & Record Check
Valencia has had a mixed start to the new season and currently sits ninth in the table with four points. Their form under Carlos Corberán has been inconsistent: a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad was followed by a sobering 1-0 defeat in Pamplona against Osasuna. At least they made a clear statement with a convincing 3-0 home win against Getafe two weeks ago.
Valencia is developing into a defensively compact team. The Bats have conceded goals in four of their last five games, but they have remained remarkably stable in the first half. The statistics show a clear tendency toward low-scoring first 45 minutes and few goals per game overall.
The victory against Getafe revealed the team’s potential. Diakhaby opened the scoring after half an hour, Danjuma added another after the break, and Hugo Duro put the icing on the cake in the closing stages. This performance was all the more remarkable given that Valencia had often been too harmless in attack previously.
Corberán’s tactical approach seems to be slowly taking effect. The team looks more structured than last season, even if the results are not yet entirely convincing. With only one point behind Real Betis and level on points with Rayo Vallecano, they remain in touch with the top third of the table.
Valencia are likely to line up in their tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation under Carlos Corberán. Agirrezabala is expected to start in goal, while the defense will likely consist of Foulquier, Tárrega, Diakhaby, and Jesús Vázquez. Santamaria and Javi Guerra could form the central midfield.
Diego López, Luis Rioja, and Danjuma are likely candidates for the attacking trio behind center forward Hugo Duro. This lineup would give Valencia the necessary balance between defensive stability and creative options up front, even if the unusual atmosphere in the small Johan Cruyff Stadium will certainly pose a special challenge.
H2H Barcelona – Valencia Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The recent record between Barcelona and Valencia shows clear dominance by the Catalans. In the last five meetings, Valencia has only managed one draw in December 2023. Since then, Barcelona has racked up four consecutive wins, including some spectacular results.
Barcelona’s accuracy in the second half is particularly noteworthy. The Blaugrana have scored at least one goal after the break in each of their last five encounters. Valencia, on the other hand, have conceded goals in the second half in every game during this period.
The 7-1 win in January 2025 and the 5-0 victory in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals a month later underline Barcelona’s current superiority in this fixture. These games have often turned out to be higher-scoring affairs than one might initially expect.
Valencia have scored in four of their last five meetings, but their defense has been helpless against Barcelona’s offense. A flood of goals seems to have become the norm when these two teams meet.
