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Barcelona took Actual Betis aside within the Spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey by a 5-1 scoreline and the win couldn’t be extra comfy than it turned out.
Tomorrow evening, they tackle Valencia within the quarterfinal of the event however they won’t have the house benefit this time round. Touring to Valencia, they’ll take to the sphere at Mestalla of their bid to safe a semifinal berth.
Hansi Flick’s males enter the sport freshly off a hard-fought 1-0 win over Deportivo Alaves. Whereas the conflict on the weekend was a just about must-win sport for the league standings, tomorrow’s sport additionally carries the identical tag albeit with extra quick penalties.
A defeat tomorrow will, in spite of everything, finish Barcelona’s hopes within the Copa del Rey and ship them crashing out. A win won’t safe the trophy, however a defeat will safe its absence.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Valencia vs Barcelona.
A current excessive
Whereas a Copa del Rey conflict in opposition to Valencia can by no means be straightforward, Barcelona head into Thursday evening’s sport with a renewed sense of confidence and one that’s backed up by a current consequence.
In spite of everything, it has been just below two weeks for the reason that Catalans locked horns in opposition to the identical opposition in La Liga and the scoreline on the evening was reflective of the crew’s dominance via the ninety minutes.
The conflict at Montjuic resulted in a 7-1 win for Barcelona, their greatest margin of victory but this season, and it’s protected to say that the opposition have been blown off their ft.
Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski have been all on the scoreline on the evening in a ruthless sport and the Blaugrana can solely use it as momentum forward of the cup sport.
Greater than something, it’s the sheer recency of the consequence that gives them the much-needed confidence booster.
It will likely be important that the dressing room doesn’t get forward of itself, however it’s protected to protected to say that Barcelona enter the sport with an inherent psychological benefit.
The attacking midfield dilemma
One other begin for Fermin Lopez? (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
The attacking midfield is maybe the division the place Barcelona and Hansi Flick have essentially the most depth out there. But, the supervisor has an enormous choice to make forward of the cup conflict in opposition to Valencia.
Dani Olmo has been the crew’s ‘mediapunta’ from the start of the season and continues to be one among Flick’s go-to choices on the massive nights. The truth is, it was he who destroyed Actual Betis within the final Copa del Rey spherical, albeit enjoying as a false 9.
The Spaniard, nevertheless, is simply getting back from harm after weeks and the supervisor confirmed that he won’t be able to begin at Mestalla and solely an possibility within the second half.
Gavi, who has taken severe prominence within the division in current weeks, in the meantime misses the sport in opposition to Los Che after his concussion within the earlier sport as a part of medical protocol.
With each first-choice attacking midfielders dominated out, it stays to be seen whom Flcick trusts with the beginning. Fermin Lopez, Pablo Torre, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong are all choices, however it’s doubtless that the previous begins.
In spite of everything, it was Fermin who was the person of the match the final time the 2 groups confronted off as he racked up two objectives and as many assists on the evening.
The hurdle known as Mestalla
Valencia might not be doing too properly this season in La Liga, however the Mestalla has all the time confirmed to be troublesome territory to overcome for Barcelona.
Earlier this season, Hansi Flick’s males took to the sphere on the difficult venue and introduced house a 2-1 win solely courtesy of a penalty from Robert Lewandowski however the crew has constantly confronted a troublesome time on the venue.
Within the final three video games Barcelona and Valencia have at Mestalla, the Catalans have scored simply 4 objectives and gained twice with a one-goal margin.
The truth is, the Catalans have solely gained as soon as within the final 3 times they’ve performed at Mestalla within the Copa del Rey, proving that the venue is a frightening one to face in a knockout scenario.
A win tomorrow will take the crew to the ultimate 4 within the competitors and inside touching distance of the trophy. To get to that stage, nevertheless, they have to go the hurdle known as Mestalla and it’s clear that they must be at their greatest.
