Valencia v Barça: Classic cup tie

Valencia and FC Barcelona meet in the Copa del Rey quarter finals this Thursday in what is the 17th time that the two sides have been drawn together in the competition. History counts for nothing once the ball starts rolling, but Barça can be reassured that the majority of these games have gone their way.

However, the most recent cup encounter was not such a joyful occasion. That was in 2018/19, and in the final no less, when Ernesto Valverde's side were beaten 2-1, the eighth and last time that Valencia collected the cup.

Going on to win the cup

FC Barcelona had emerged victorious in all three previous meetings, all of which were two-legged semi-finals, in 2017/18, 2015/16 and 2011/12. And on each of those occasions, the Catalans went on to win the final too. The most memorable was the 7-0 win at Camp Nou, with a hat-trick from Leo Messi and an immense four goals from Luis Suárez. A 1-1 draw in the mere formality of a second leg at Mestalla did the rest. 

Going on to win the cup is a curious consistency in meetings between these sides. Going back in time, the previous two meetings in the semis in 2007/08 and quarters of 1998/99 continued the trend, although those were both occasions when Valencia came out tops.

And if we go all the way back to the very first cup meeting between Barça and Valencia, won by the former in 1924/25, we get the same outcome. Barça went on to be proclaimed champions.

In between there have been four other instances of the same thing happening: 

• 1962/63. Semi-final, Barça went on to win the cup. 
• 1952/53. Round of 16, Barça went on to win the cup. 
• 1948/49. Semi-final, Valencia went on to win the cup. 
• 1941/42. Semi-final, Barça went on to win the cup. 

2019 wasn't the only time that Barça and Valencia went head-to-head in the grand final. They also met in 1951/52 (won by Barça), 1953/54 (Valencia) and 1970/71 (Barça).

Of the 16 meetings in the past, Barça have emerged victorious 10 times. And buoyed by the fact that they only recently put seven goals past Valencia in a league match, Hansi Flick has every reason to feel confident that his team can advance into the last four of this year's Copa del Rey.