Summary

  • Messi equals Pele's record of 643 goals for single club

  • Fifth-placed Barcelona have three wins in past four La Liga fixtures

  • Valencia have one win in four

Live Reporting

Saj Chowdhury

  1. Stat attack

    Barcelona v Valencia (15:15 GMT)

    • Barcelona have only lost one of their last eight La Liga games against Valencia (W4 D3), losing the last one, 0-2 at Mestalla in January 2020.
    • At home, Barcelona have avoided defeat in their last four LaLiga games against Valencia (W3 D1), since a defeat 1-2 in April 2016. There have been scored 20 goals on aggregate in those games (five goals per game).
    • Valencia suffered their biggest LaLiga defeat in the 21st century in May 2008 against Barcelona at Camp Nou (0-6), and in that game Lionel Messi scored his first goal against them.
    • After winning 2-0 at Mestalla in January 2020, Valencia could win two LaLiga games in a row against Barcelona for the first time since January 2003 under Rafa Benítez.

  2. 'It's not a peaceful environment in which to work'

    Barcelona v Valencia (15:15 GMT)

    Barca coach Ronald Koeman was quite blunt about his experience as coach of Valencia, during the pre-match news conference.

    The club hovered just above the relegation zone and had been knocked out of the Champions League group stage when he left in April 2008, only six months after taking charge.

    He said: "Valencia was not my best memory as a coach. I may have made some bad decisions when I was there.

    "It was a short stay, but at least we managed to win the Cup. Valencia is a difficult place, they have had a lot of changes in the last 15 years and it's not a peaceful environment in which to work."

    Ronald KoemanReuters

  3. Team news

    Barcelona v Valencia (15:15 GMT)

    Frenkie de Jong is replaced by Philippe Coutinho in midfield - the one change to the XI that started in the 2-1 win against Sociedad.

    Koeman is still without defender Gerard Pique, forward Ansu Fati, winger Ousmane Dembele and full-back Sergi Roberto due to injury.

    Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Mingueza, Jordi Alba; Coutinho, Busquets, Pedri; Messi, Griezmann, Braithwaite.

    Valencia XI: Jaume; Wass, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya; Musah, Carlos Soler, Racic, Cheryshev; Guedes, Maxi Gomez.

  4. A turning point?

    Barcelona v Valencia (15:15 GMT)

    Barcelona's recent 2-1 victory over high-flying Real Sociedad was probably one of their best displays of the season and brought them to six points off the lead.

    Sadly for them, above lie fierce rivals Real Madrid and leaders Atletico Madrid, who defeated Elche 3-1 to move nine clear of Barca. Real are at Eibar on Sunday.

    The only thing that Ronald Koeman can do after his club's shaky first half of the season is to keep up with the Joneses and hope that they themselves can now avoid any more slip-ups.

    Lionel MessiRex Features