PREVIEW | Valencia v FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona are heading to Valencia this Saturday for a 9pm CET kick-off, knowing that they need the three points more than ever after tumbling to a 4-2 defeat at home to direct rivals Girona the weekend before.
Albeit with something of an experimental side, the team suffered a second defeat in three days when a goal in the final instants of injury time earned Royal Antwerp a 3-2 win in Wednesday's Champions League clash, a somewhat less painful reverse for Barça as they were already virtually assured of top spot Group H.
They now have to pick up the pieces against a Valencia side that for the the fifth season in a row is positioned well below the Champions League places that they are accustomed to battling for. Traditionally, Mestalla is one of the toughest road trips in La Liga, although in recent years teams have been winning there more often than they are used to. Barça themselves are on a three-game winning streak away to Valencia, and have won the last five games in total. A sixth win would actually be Barça's best ever run against Los Che.
But even a less strong Valencia than usual is still a formidable opponent that is not to be underestimated. Indeed, last year, Barça looked headed for a 0-0 draw in this fixture, and were only rescued by a Robert Lewandowski goal three minutes into second half injury time.
How it stands
Following the loss in the Catalan derby, Barça are now seven points adrift of the surprise leaders of the league. Girona don't play until Monday night, when they'll be entertaining Getafe.
And there are now five points between Barça and Real Madrid, who are at home to Villarreal on Sunday, while Atlético Madrid have risen into third and have a game in hand. By the time Barça take to the pitch on Saturday night, Atlético will have already finished their own game, a tricky trip to the home of fifth-placed Athletic Club.
Team news
Xavi has picked as strong a squad as possible, having to work around the forced absences of the injured Gavi, Marc-André ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso and Iñigo Martínez.
Full squad: João Cancelo, Balde, R. Araujo, Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, João Félix, Christensen, Romeu, S. Roberto, F. De Jong, Gündoğan, Kounde, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, M. Casadó, Kochen, Fermín, Cubarsí, Marc Guiu and H. Fort.
Xavi says
Xavi is aware that "the recent defeats have taken their toll", which mean the team "aren't where they should be in LaLiga".
He knows that the Valencia game is a tough test, stating that "the pressure is always ramped up at the Mestalla stadium and that makes the game more difficult. Valencia are a tough rival and the game will be like a final for us".
He also called for unity, saying "it is the moment to believe in the project" and that they are still in all four available competitions this season.