FC Barcelona vs Valladolid: A victory to go into the international break as leaders and undefeated

FC Barcelona continues its journey in the Spanish championship next Saturday, August 31 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, when the team led by Hansi Flick faces Valladolid in the match corresponding to the second day of the EA Sports LaLiga 2024/25. The ball will start rolling at 5:00 p.m., and it will be the return of the Barça squad to Montjuïc after the successful home debut against Athletic Club (1-2).

The sensations in the Catalan team, in terms of sport, are increasingly better. The German's project in Barcelona could not have started in a better way, getting 9 points out of 9 and demonstrating significant progress in the team's personality and competitiveness. In the match against Rayo Vallecano, the Catalans again started the match behind on the scoreboard, but the stellar appearances of Pedri and Dani Olmo 'rescued' a Barça with increasingly high morale.

For its part, Valladolid arrives at a very unstable time for the team. In its last duel, against Leganés at home, the pucelanos were unable to prevail over the Madrid team and barely 'scraped' a point at the José Zorrilla. Previously, they had been thrashed by Real Madrid (3-0), thus 'crushing' the hope of those led by Paulo Pezzolano, who had started the league competition with a victory against Espanyol.

A 'wounded' midfield

Although on the field the team has shown a 'devastating' performance, the news off it is not so positive. In the last clash against the Rayista team, Marc Bernal suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee and an associated injury to the external meniscus, a setback that will force him to undergo surgery and that will keep him away from the first team for the rest of the season.

The loss of the youth player is a very sensitive one for Flick, who loses another player in the midfield and leaves the pivot position in a bad way. The 17-year-old player joins Frenkie de Jong, whose return date is not yet set, and Andreas Christensen, who will be in the dry dock and was the German's 'wild card' for the position, in the Blaugrana infirmary, which is why Marc Casadó aims to occupy the place left by the Berga native in the team.

Thus, it is expected that the former 'Die Mannschaft' coach will not make any notable changes to his starting line-up with the aim of giving his regulars some playing time. In goal, Marc-André Ter Stegen is absolutely undisputed and will seek to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season, accompanied by the quartet made up of Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo and Balde, who are increasingly established. Casadó would provide balance to the team, while Olmo and Pedri would be in charge of supplying Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski in attack.

A special debut

The match will have a special flavour for Barcelona fans and Dani Olmo. After a long wait, the player from Egar will make his first appearance before the Barcelona fans, who have been eager to see their star signing in action since his arrival at the club was announced on 9 August. The player managed to be registered in the run-up to the match against Rayo 'thanks' to Andreas Christensen's injury, and everything points to Flick putting him in from the start after having taken him off in the second half in Vallecas.

Precisely, at Rayo's home ground, the new '20' from Barcelona was dressed as a hero. When things were getting dark, the footballer, in a play very similar to those he has executed in the Spanish national team, appeared from behind in the area and sent his shot into the back of the net, completing the comeback and giving the team the three points. It was 'getting there and kissing the saint' for the Catalan, who hopes to maintain his streak and 'score' in his debut at Montjuïc.

Barça, clear favourites

The Catalans come into the match with all the statistics in their favour. In their 45 visits to Barcelona, ​​Valladolid has only managed 2 victories, the last of them in November 1997, and six draws, losing 37 matches. However, in the last clash between both teams, the pucelanos took the three points with a resounding 3-1, although that match was played on matchday 36 of LaLiga and Xavi's project was already worn out.

Now, with new faces in the dugout and on the pitch, a Barça side with renewed hopes is looking to extend its streak to 27 years without knowing defeat against Valladolid at home and maintain its excellent run in the league championship. If they manage to do so, the Catalans would go into the international break as undefeated leaders of the tournament, making a statement for the future.

Match details: FC Barcelona vs Valladolid

• Match: FC Barcelona vs Valladolid
• Tournament: LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25
• Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona)
• Television: Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. (5:00 CEST)

Probable lineups for FC Barcelona-Valladolid in LaLiga EA SPORTS 2024/2025

• FC Barcelona's XI: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Casadó, Pedri, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha y Lewandowski.
• Valladolid's XI: Hein; Luis Pérez, Cömert, Javi Sánchez, Rosa; Juric, Kike Pérez, Meseguer; Iván Sánchez, Moro y Latasa.