Valencia-FC Barcelona: Going for a new rout to reach the semifinals of the Cup

The FC Barcelona could take a crucial step towards their aspirations in the Copa del Rey 2024/25 this coming Thursday. The blaugrana team will travel to Mestalla to face Valencia in the quarterfinals of the Spanish competition, aiming to replicate the result achieved in their previous encounter corresponding to matchday 21 of LaLiga and secure their place in the semifinals.

The immediate precedent invites optimism for a resounding victory for the culés at the che's home ground. In the visit of Carlos Corberán's team to Montjuïc a couple of weeks ago, the Catalans delivered a shocking 7-1 defeat, in what was a true football exhibition that remains fresh in the memory of Barcelona fans.

Despite the fact that the Valencians are starting to take flight with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss (against Barça) in their last five matches, as well as winning their last two home games, the blaugranas remain unbeaten in 2025, accumulating 7 victories and just 2 draws in the 9 matches they have played so far, making this clash promise to be full of excitement.

A match that could determine the fate of the Cup

Valencia and Barça will meet for the twenty-third time in the Copa del Rey, marking the seventeenth knockout round that both teams will contest in the national tournament. The duel between these two teams could serve as a premonition of what may happen next Saturday, April 26, at La Cartuja due to an interesting precedent.

Of the 22 times they have faced each other, 16 knockout rounds, 4 finals, and 2 group stage matches, the champion of the tournament has emerged on 17 occasions. The blaugranas, the tournament's most successful team with 31 trophies in their cabinet, have lifted the title in 11 of the 22 editions they have faced off, while the che team has celebrated victory 8 times, 6 of them after facing the Catalan entity.

For this reason, qualifying for the semifinals will not be the only thing at stake this Thursday, but also the strong possibility of lifting the cup in Seville in just over two months.

A significant absence for Hansi Flick

To seek passage to the next round, Hansi Flick might rely on his usual players again, although he has already hinted at some rotations in his lineup. The debate over the goalkeeper position has been settled after the coach confirmed Szczesny as his starter, while Frenkie de Jong could take the place of Gavi in midfield since the Andalusian is ruled out for the visit to Mestalla.

The culé '6' is still recovering from the severe head clash he suffered against Tomás Conechny in the match against Leganés last Sunday, and the coach confirmed his absence due to the protocol calling for caution in such situations.

However, the German will be able to count on Dani Olmo again after being sidelined for more than two weeks due to a strain in the soleus of his right leg. The Egarense will not start, but the coach indicated that he could come off the bench in the second half if the team needs a spark.

Barça seeks revenge against Valencia in the Cup

The clash at Mestalla is set to be a complex one for Barça, whose Cup history at this venue against the che team is extremely balanced. In knockout matches, the blaugranas have achieved 5 victories, with 6 draws and another 5 wins for the locals.

The last encounter between the two teams in this competition took place on May 25, 2019, in the final of that edition. With goals from Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno, the team then led by Marcelino García Toral ended up celebrating victory against Ernesto Valverde's side, despite Lionel Messi reducing the deficit near the end.

In fact, that victory was the last one for the blanquinegros against the Catalans. To find the last triumph of these against the culés, one must go back to January 25, 2020, when the che team defeated Koeman's side 2-0 at home. Since then, Barça has emerged victorious on 8 occasions and drawn twice in the last 10 encounters between the two.

Thus, the knockout match taking place this Thursday at 21:30 hours at Mestalla will be a duel with a lot of history and intrigue. The Valencians want to surprise and redeem themselves after the humiliation suffered a couple of weeks ago at Montjuïc, while the blaugranas aim to continue establishing themselves as the best team currently with a victory that allows them to access the semifinals and take another step towards one of the major objectives of the season.

Technical sheet of the match

1. All the information about the match: Valencia - FC Barcelona
2. Schedule and results: Copa del Rey
3. Possible lineups: The probable XI of Valencia and Barcelona 
4. Stadium: Mestalla
5. Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias
6. Times and television: When and where to watch the match - Worldwide guide