Barça to face Valladolid in La Liga two years later

After eliminating Alcorcón this weekend and winning promotion to the Liga BBVA, Valladolid are the third and final team - after Deportivo Coruña and Celta - to complete the list of 20 teams that will feature in the 2012/13 Primera division. Coincidentally, Valladolid’s last match in Primera, two years ago, was at the Camp Nou against FC Barcelona.

The Liga of the 99 points...

The last time the Azulgranas faced Valladolid was on May 16, 2010. On that day, Pep Guardiola’s men won their second consecutive Liga title at the Camp Nou after beating Valladolid 4 to 0. The victory closed out the season and Barça’s impressive 99-point haul in the Liga.

... in the Liga of “Urruti, I love you”

Next season, FC Barcelona will travel to the José Zorilla, a stadium that’s embedded in the Culé psyche. Barça clinched the 1984/85 Liga title thanks to a penalty save from Urruti in the 88th minute. It was the first Liga title for the Azulgranas in 11 years. Joaquim Maria Puyal let “Urruti, I love you” slip from his lips as his words were being broadcast across the airwaves. The moment will always be remembered by Barcelonistas.

Favourable record

Barça have historically performed well against Valladolid. In the last 19 years, the two teams have faced off 25 times. Of those, Barça have won 18, tied 4 and lost 3.

Of the 12 matches played at José Zorrilla, FC Barcelona took the 3 points on 8 occasions. The last defeat to Valladolid was on October 20, 2002, when the Azulgranas lost 2 to 1.

Valladolid have only been able to extract 5 points from the Camp Nou in the last 19 years. On November 9, 1997, they downed Barça 1-2, from that point on they only managed to get two draws: 1-1 in the 2002/03 season, 0-0 in the 2003/04 season.