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VAL vs BAR Dream11 Match Prediction: Valencia has a stern test ahead of themselves as they take on FC Barcelona at home for their 21st fixture of the Spanish League this season. Valencia currently occupies the 7th spot in La Liga with 31 points and was recently thumped 4-1 by RCD Mallorca away from home. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona is at the top of the league with 43 points but have looked shaky on quite a few occasions this season. The Catalans are on level terms when it comes to points secured in the league with Real Madrid and will hope to get the win in order to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals.
Date- Saturday, January 25
Kick-Off- 8:30 PM (IST)
Venue- Mestalla
Valencia
Daniel Parejo will miss the upcoming fixture after sustaining two yellow cards against Mallorca in the last game. Meanwhile, Cristiano Piccini, Goncalo Guedes, Manu Vallejo and Rodrigo Moreno are out injured. Ferran Torres came off the bench to score a consolation goal and should be in line to start for the hosts. Kevin Gameiro and Maxi Gomez would be available to play up front.
Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez remain on the sidelines due to injury for Barcelona. Ansu Fati will once again be in contention of featuring in the attack alongside Leo Messi and Antoine Griezmann. Rakitic and Busquets should accommodate midfield, while, Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and Nelson Semedo could compile the back four.
Predicted Lineups
VAL (Expected Playing 11)- Domenech; Wass, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya; Soler, Kang-In, Coquelin, Torres; Gamero, Gomez
BAR (Expected Playing 11)- T Stegan; Umtiti, Pique, Roberto; Busquets; Alba, Rakitic, Vidal, Fati; Griezmann, Messi
In the absence of Parejo and Moreno, Ferran Torres can play a vital role through the midfield for Valencia. Torres has four goals, three assists and a pass accuracy of 79.4% from 1248 minutes in the league this season.
Lionel Messi has been his usual prolific self in the ongoing campaign. The 32-year-old has 14 goals, six assists and a pass accuracy of 81.7% from 15 appearances in the league this season for Barcelona.
Kevin Gameiro can be a threat in the final third for Valencia. Gameiro has four goals, an assist and a pass accuracy of 77.8% from 718 minutes in the La Liga this season.
Antoine Griezmann bagged a brace against Ibiza in the Copa Del Rey fixture recently and will be eager to score more. The former Atletico Madrid striker has seven goals, four assists and a pass accuracy of 80% from 19 appearances in the league this season.
FC Barcelona will be the favourites heading into the game.
Goalkeeper-Domenech
Defenders-S Roberto, G Pique, G Paulinho, E Garay
Midfielders- A Melo, F Torres, C Soler
Forwards- A Griezmann, L Messi (C), M Gomez (VC)