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Barcelona will put their best foot forward tonight as they desperately need to win against Valencia to remain in the race for the La Liga title.
Barcelona let slip a great opportunity to take the lead in the La Liga title race after losing 2-1 to Granada in midweek. Both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid won their matches yesterday and Ronald Koeman's side cannot settle for anything less than all three points when they go up against Valencia tonight.
Valencia have been in poor form of late and have been winless in their last five games. They have endured a heavily underwhelming season and languish at 14th in the La Liga table but have fared relatively well at home and have lost just thrice at Mestalla this season, winning six.
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The La Liga title race is all set to go down to the wire. After struggling in the first half of the season, Barcelona have done incredibly well to turn their fortunes around and even work their way back into the title race.
They ought to put the loss against Granada behind them and focus on the games ahead as they are still in with a shout. Without further ado, let's take a look at how Barcelona will line up against Valencia tonight.
Barcelona goalkeeper
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has not exactly been at his best this season and has shown signs of declining. But he is Barcelona's best bet between the sticks. He has kept just two cleansheets in the last ten matches.
There is an opinion among fans that Marc-Andre ter Stegen could have rushed out sooner to prevent Granada's first goal in midweek. But it's a season where has missed a chunk through injury and ter Stegen should be able to get back to his best in no time.
Barcelona defenders
Ronald Koeman has chosen to go with a three-man defence in recent times. He is expected to do the same again. Samuel Umtiti has returned from injury and started the game against Granada. However, we expect Clement Lenglet to be brought back in the left centre-back position.
Oscar Mingueza has had quite an impressive campaign and just recently put pen to paper on a new deal. He is expected to start on the right side of the three-man defence. Gerard Pique will be the final member of the backline and they will need to be at the top of their game tonight as Valencia haven't failed to score in any of their last six games.
Barcelona midfielders
Barcelona youngster Pedri was rested against Granada with Jordi Alba playing in midfield alongside Frenkie De Jong. Moriba started at left wing-back. However, Jordi Alba is expected to return to left wing-back tonight against Valencia.
With Miralem Pjanic and Riqui Puig becoming non-entities under Ronald Koeman, Sergio Busquets will play as the holding midfielder with the likes of Pedri and Frenkie De Jong operating ahead of him. Sergino Dest is expected to start at right-back.
Carlos Soler and Uros Racic are expected to start in central midfield for Valencia and the duo have fared decently in recent times. Barcelona will face a tough test but the slickness of Pedri, Frenkie De Jong and Sergio Busquets is expected to give them the edge over their Valencia counterparts.
Barcelona forwards
Ronald Koeman has a very limited number of options in attack. Striker Martin Braithwaite continues to be sidelined with an injury. He is close to a return but Sunday night might come too early for him.
Both Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho are long-term absentees but Ousmane Dembele is fully fit and in contention for a starting spot. However, Antoine Griezmann has done a great job in recent times and he is expected to retain his starting berth.
The Frenchmen have enjoyed their best seasons yet at the Camp Nou. Griezmann has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 31 appearances in La Liga so far this term. Meanwhile Dembele has scored five goals and provided two assists in 26 appearances of which only 16 have been starts.
Griezmann has four goals and an assist in the last four matches and is expected to be given the nod ahead of Ousmane Dembele, with the latter likely to come off the bench as an impact substitution.
His partner in attack will be Lionel Messi, who has been in top form since the turn of the year and the Argentine had given Barcelona an early lead in their loss against Granada in midweek as well. He has scored more goals in 2021 than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues.
Having played a starring role in Barcelona's Copa Del Rey win, Lionel Messi will want to cap off what started off as a forgettable campaign with a league title. Messi will once again be Barcelona's main creative force.
Barcelona predicted XI (3-5-2): Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Oscar Mingueza, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, Sergino Dest, Jordi Alba, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi
