PREVIEW | Valencia v FC Barcelona

Sunday’s 4.15pm CEST kick-off sees FC Barcelona travel to Valencia for matchday four of the 2026/27 La Liga season. And this may be more than just another trip to Mestalla. With Valencia set to move to a new stadium at the end of the campaign, this will almost certainly be Barça’s final competitive appearance at the historic ground.

FC Barcelona club badge

New faces 

Hansi Flick’s side began the weekend level at the top of the table after taking a perfect nine points from their opening three games. Real Madrid had also started with three wins from three, but their 1-0 defeat to Betis at La Cartuja on Friday means Barça now have the opportunity to move clear at the top.

There are also some notable additions to the squad. Gabriel Jesus and Dominik Livaković have both been called up for the first time, while Gavi returns after recovering from the knock he suffered against Elche on the opening weekend.

Lamine Yamal took a knock in training this week but Flick insisted on Saturday that it doesn't necessarily mean the 19-year-old will be unable to feature on Sunday.

Injury-hit Valencia

Valencia have endured a difficult start to the season, taking just one point from their first three games. That came in a goalless draw at home to Celta Vigo on the opening weekend, followed by defeats to Betis and Deportivo La Coruña.

Umar Sadiq has scored their only goal of the campaign so far, but will miss Sunday’s game through injury. Manager Carlos Corberán will also be without Guido Rodríguez, Diego López, Luis Rioja, Sergi Canós, Dimitri Foulquier and Justin de Haas.

FC Barcelona club badge

Head to head

Barça’s last visit to Mestalla ended in defeat. It came on the final day of last season, with Flick’s side already crowned La Liga champions, so had little to play for, while Corberán’s Valencia (he took charge in January 2025) were still hoping to secure European football. Valencia took all three points, but ultimately missed out on a place in the Conference League.

Before that defeat, Barça had won six consecutive meetings with Valencia and gone 12 games unbeaten against them. Their previous loss to Los Che had also come at Mestalla, a 2-0 defeat on 25 January 2020.

Barça will therefore be looking to maintain their perfect start to 2026/27 and potentially move clear at the top of the table on what could be their final visit to the century-old Mestalla. Valencia may have struggled for results and are missing several players, but a trip to their ground is rarely straightforward. And with this potentially their final season at the stadium, there will be added significance to Sunday’s encounter.