Probable Lineups

4-2-3-1
Valladolid
4-3-3
Barcelona
© WhoScored.com

Probable Lineups Statistical Comparision

(46) 18 Goals 77 (106)
(33) 17 Assists 55 (87)
(6.7) 6.8 Average Ratings 7.2 (7)
24.9 Average Age 27.6
181.2 Average Height (cm) 175.5
(0.8) 0.7 Shots pg 1.2 (0.9)
(49%) 53% Aerial Duel Success 48% (48%)
(0.4) 0.4 Dribbles pg 0.9 (1.1)
(1.9) 1.4 Tackles pg 1.3 (1.3)
* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in LIGA BBVA.

Missing Players

Player Reason Status Rating
Patrick Ebert Out 7.56
Jesús Rueda Out 6.83
Player Reason Status Rating
Marc Muniesa Out N/A
Isaac Cuenca Out N/A
Francesc Fábregas Out 7.4

Team News

Valladolid
  • Valladolid secured another important point towards their target of survival this season with a 0-0 draw away to Deportivo la Coruna on Monday.
  • La Pucela missed the invention and goalscoring threat of Patrick Ebert at La Riazor, but the German and Jesus Rueda remain sidelined by injury so Miroslav Djukic is expected to name the same starting 11 for the visit of the league leaders.
Barcelona
  • Barcelona's perfect start to the week on and off the field was rocked by the news that manager Tito Vilanova is to have surgery, followed by chemotherapy, on a tumour on his saliva gland.
  • Villanova's assistant Jordi Roura will deputise whilst the 44-year-old recovers.
  • Earlier in the week the Catalans had been boosted by the return to training of Eric Abidal following his own battle with illness that forced him to have a liver transplant.
  • On the field Cesc Fabregas remains the only senior player unavailable through injury so Roura is expected to name the same side that extended their advantage in the title race with a 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Prediction

  • It is impossible to tell how Barcelona's players will react to the desperately sad news about their manager once they cross the white line, but as sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta stressed in a press conference on Wednesday, Vilanova is a winner and would want his side to retain their winning mentality.
  • Indeed it could even prove an extra sense of motivation in what is a tricky away tie to round-off the year as Real Madrid found just a fortnight ago.
  • However, it is hard to look beyond a Barca victory in any game right now given the form of Lionel Messi who seems to guarantee at least two goals every time he steps onto the pitch. Following another two against Atleti last weekend that took his tally for the calendar year to 90, the Argentine has now scored twice in each of the last eight games he has started.
Prediction:
Valladolid
1
3
Barcelona
© WhoScored.com

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Head to Head Stats

R Team W D L Pts Form
1 Barcelona 30 4 2 94 wwdwww
13 Valladolid 11 10 15 43 wddlwl

Top Players

Valladolid
Barcelona
P. Ebert 7.56
Manucho 7.1
D. Hernández 7.06
L. Messi 8.85
F. Fábregas 7.4
A. Iniesta 7.38
Óscar 12
J. Guerra 8
Manucho 8
L. Messi 46
F. Fábregas 10
D. Villa 9
P. Ebert 7
Óscar 7
O. Ramos 5
A. Iniesta 15
L. Messi 12
F. Fábregas 11

Match Forecast

Barcelona will control the game in the opposition's half  
Barcelona will score as a result of individual skill  
There will be a low number of cards shown  
Barcelona will make a comeback if they go behind  
Barcelona will score from a direct freekick  
* Match forecast is generated from clashes in team characters.

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Data sources: Data Sources