PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Valencia
After playing the first three 2025/26 LaLiga games away from home, FC Barcelona are set to play at home for the first time this season. Hansi Flick and the squad welcome Valencia for the fourth matchday fixture of the domestic competition at the Estadi Johan Cruyff (Sunday 14 September, kick-off 9.00pm CEST). It's also the first game back after the first international break of the new season and against a team with new faces this season.
Good recent record
The blaugranes will be aiming to match what happened last season, as they faced Valencia three times – twice in LaLiga and once in the Copa del Rey – and won all three. What's more, the goal tally from those games was very much in Barça's favour with 14 for and only two against. The league results were 1-2 (at Mestalla) and 7-1 (at Montjuïc), while they won 0-5 in the cup competition.
Bernal returns
Since the 1-1 draw last time out in LaLiga against Rayo Vallecano, Barça have lost a few more players to injury, with the list of absentees now Alejandro Balde, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Lamine Yamal and Ter Stegen. However, Hansi Flick has Marc Bernal available after the Catalan midfielder returned to the squad after more than a year out.
A refreshed Valencia
When it comes to Valencia, coach Carlos Corberán can count on new faces after the summer. Despite losing two key defenders in Christian Mosquera and Yarek Gasiorowski, the Valencians have added Ugrinic, Copete, Santamaria, Agirrezabala, Lucas Beltrán, Dani Raba, Danjuma and Ramazani. The latest arrival, Beltrán, is only player yet to have featured for the side, and they all look like they will be important players this season.
Valencia are currently in ninth in the fledgling LaLia table with four points, gained from a draw, a defeat and a win, having won their last game 3-0 against Getafe. Barça are in fourth with seven points from a possible nine. The scene is set for a high quality match on the Johan Cruyff pitch between the Catalans and Valencians.