Valencia vs. FC Barcelona preview
Tonight, Barcelona travels to Valencia to play a tough away game against a team who has won their last 5 games including a 3-1 victory against Sevilla. Valencia are currently in 4th place and trail Sevilla by only two points. A win tomorrow could put Valencia into 3rd at least until Sevilla plays Real Madrid on Sunday.
In the first game of the season, Barcelona easily beat Valencia 4-0 with Henry scoring a hat trick. In that game, Eto’o was suspended and Henry occupied the central attacking spot.
The Barca lineup for the game is complicated by the fact, that some of the Barca players only need another yellow card before triggering a suspension. Toure, Alves, Eto’o, Xavi and Busquets will be suspended for the El Classico if they receive a yellow card tomorrow.
Valdes
Puyol, Marquez, Pique, Abidal
Busquets
Xavi, Keita
Messi, Bojan, Iniesta
Alves hasn’t played as well as he did over the winter and a rest would be good for him. This would also ensure that he can play at the Bernabeu. Marquez and Pique have been rocks in central defense so no need to change that. Abidal looks a certain starter in left back.
In midfield, Sergio Busquets will probably start instead of Toure. He will get defensive assistance from Keita and Xavi will be needed to create the game.
In attack, Messi was rested and Iniesta was subbed after 58 fantastic minutes from him in the Sevilla game. Henry has been playing a lot recently and could need a rest. We expect Bojan to start instead of Eto’o but it’s pretty much 50/50.
Valencia are playing a 4231 and have seen a lot of success recently. Unfortunately for them, Joaquin and Albelda will miss the game due to injuries. Villa is in fantastic form at the moment and scored both goals in midweek. He now has 25 goals of the season.
Cesar
Alexis, Marchena, Maduro, del Horno
Edu, Moretti
Pedro, Silva, Mata
Villa
This means that del Horno can look forward to taking care of Messi again. In the round of 16 match against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge in 2006, del Horno was shown the red card after a bad challenge on Messi.
Steffen Risager is the editor of www.elbarca.net.
Football News 24/7
I am in Liberia. I love barcelona FC in spain. Please let my favoir team beat Valencia tonight.I am getting prepare to for tonight game in Liberia.
Thanks.
April 25th, 2009 @ 10:15Barce is the best team in the whole world, but they should be very careful about the keys in the teem, messi, enasta, exzave,peqe,and dany, messi should give more rest because any thing happen to him we will not win the three champions ship, and I am sure the teem will be able to win in all of them, the next player Barca should have him is Alquro the athlico madread player, and the French wing in B.M Rebarry those player are very good , on the other hand Goduanson, and Hleb are not good to the team, good luck and my best wishes to the best foot ball team in the world.
April 25th, 2009 @ 11:36moretti in midfield?doubt it.hes a left back,and a useless one at that.maduro or baraja will play there.not sure why you left out albiol in defence,he is valencias best defender easily
April 25th, 2009 @ 13:57WISHING TO NIGHT THE BEST FOR ALL BARCE CLUB SUPPORT.
WISHING FOR ALL PLAYER TONIGHT.
tariku
April 28th, 2009 @ 12:56