MX23RW : Saturday, February 8 23:37:35| >> :120:20910:20910:
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Attendance: 67,435
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 24
Feb 16, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Real Valladolid logo

1-0

Messi (43' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Barcelona could line up against Real Valladolid

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid.

Barcelona will be looking to return to winning ways following three successive draws when they welcome Real Valladolid to Camp Nou in La Liga on Saturday night.

Ernesto Valverde's side are still top of the table, but are now just six points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, having drawn their last two league fixtures against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao.

The Catalan giants have only lost two of their 23 league matches this season, though, and have had a free week to prepare for this match as they are not in Champions League last-16 action until February 19.

Barcelona recorded a 1-0 win over Valladolid in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with Ousmane Dembele scoring the only goal of the match just before the hour.

Meanwhile, in the last five league meetings between the two teams at Camp Nou - which have all ended in home victories - Barcelona have scored 20 times.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up against Valladolid.


POSS BAR XI vs. VAL

Out: Rafinha (knee), Jasper Cillessen (muscle), Arthur (hamstring)
Doubtful: Samuel Umtiti (knee)

Samuel Umtiti is back in training for Barcelona after seemingly overcoming his troublesome knee problem. The Frenchman has not played for the Catalan giants since November, but is now nearing a first-team return.

It seems likely that Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet will continue in central defence this weekend, though, with Umtiti being eased back into action following a spell on the sidelines.

Jordi Alba will return after missing the draw with Bilbao through suspension, meaning that either Sergi Roberto or Nelson Semedo will drop out of the first XI.

Dembele could take Philippe Coutinho's spot in the final third, while Lionel Messi will have benefited from the break in fixtures to take care of his recent thigh problem and the Argentine should start this weekend.

Arthur is still on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, however, meaning that there could be a start for Carles Alena as Arturo Vidal struggled to impress at Bilbao last time out.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid23155351222950
2Atletico MadridAtletico23147238152349
3Barcelona22143560243645
4Athletic Bilbao23128336201644
5Villarreal23117546341240
6Rayo Vallecano239862724335
7GironaGirona2394103133-231
8Osasuna227962731-430
9Mallorca2293101928-930
10Real BetisBetis237882731-429
11Real Sociedad2284101819-128
12Celta Vigo2384113437-328
13Sevilla227782430-628
14Getafe225981717024
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2365122838-1023
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2256112534-921
19Valencia2247112237-1519
20Real ValladolidValladolid2343161548-3315


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
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