Valencia vs. Barcelona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Barcelona travel to Valencia on the back of some stunning form. A total of 26 goals scored and only two conceded in their last six give Los Che an idea of the uphill task they will be facing at the Mestalla.
The hosts have been given a lift with the appointment of Gary Neville, but the ex-Manchester United man won't take charge until after this match.
His presence should galvanise an under-performing squad who have been well below par in most matches this season.
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Nuno Santo walked rather than be pushed, but one has to question how much the manager could have done to reverse the decline given the stories emanating from the club concerning just how toxic the dressing room has become thanks to the involvement of a certain Jorge Mendes.
Graham Ruthven of Eurosport was among those to note the same:
"Valencia has become Mendes’ stable, with the Portuguese agent stockpiling players at the Mestalla - where youth players are promoted to the first-team on his say-so. [...] Agents are widely considered the scourge of clubs everywhere, but at Valencia Mendes’ involvement - control, even - has been actively encouraged.
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Neville has less than six months to change that status quo, which will be easier said than done, and it's the unstable nature of the situation that threatens to undermine any good work Neville will try his best to achieve.
Javi Fuego and Joao Cancelo are unavailable for selection per Sport, thanks to their red cards in a hugely disappointing game against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. It was a game where Valencia failed to register a single shot on target.
Date: Saturday, December 5
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Mestalla, Valencia, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 2 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)/beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
Both teams are likely to stick with an attacking 4-3-3, Barca's serving them much better than their hosts and which probably led to Nuno Santo utilising an ultra-defensive 4-5-1 against Sevilla.
Although Valencia haven't been playing their best football this season, they can normally be relied upon to give the Blaugrana a decent game.
Mestalla is certainly one of the hardest places for any team to visit, and the ground will be packed to the rafters as Los Che's fanatical support do their utmost to lift the spirits of their side.
Aside from the enforced changes that have to be made, Valencia will likely keep much the same team at least to start this match and see how things develop during the 90 minutes.
Sofiane Feghouli will sit high up top alongside Santi Mina and the effervescent Paco Alcacer.
Barca's centre-back pairing of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano will have to keep on their toes against a centre-forward who is continuing to make a name for himself at both club and international level.
There are certainly goals in this game for him if Barca's concentration levels are not spot on throughout.
Jordi Alba and Dani Alves will, as usual, be keen to get forward at every opportunity, but both have to be wary of the threat presented by Feghouli and Mina.
Valencia's wide men are adept at taking on their full-backs and delivering with aplomb, and Alcacer will reap the rewards given the right service.
Dani Parejo can ensure that Ivan Rakitic's distribution is kept to a minimum with a solid midfield display whilst Danilo has the unenviable task of protecting his back four from the foraging of old twinkle toes himself, Andres Iniesta.
Barca's captain needs to bring the ball inside as often as possible to isolate his marker, Enzo Perez. In so doing, he leaves a large expanse of green for Neymar to go about his work.
The Brazilian will hope to get at Antonio Barragan and Aderian Santos as often as possible, unsettling the defence so that both Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi can profit.
Jose Gaya likes to get forward himself but against Messi will have to forego any notion of attacking unless there is unexpected daylight between the two teams and in favour of the hosts.
Aymen Abdennour has performed reasonably well during this campaign, and a calming presence at the back for Los Che will be just what 'keeper Mat Ryan needs.
Valencia can ill-afford to fall even further off the pace. At start of play, they remain five points away from the Champions League places, and another defeat potentially opens up a cavernous eight-point gap if other results go against them.
That would already leave Neville with a huge mountain to climb.
Player to Watch
Although none of Valencia's staff have come anywhere close to hitting the heights of last season to this point, Sofiane Feghouli can at least be relied upon to give his best at all times.
The lightning-quick right winger is out of contract in the summer, and the game of the weekend gives him another chance to shine in the shop window.
Indeed, per Fichajes via Sport, Barca appear to be keeping tabs on Feghouli's situation, and a game-winning performance here could make up Luis Enrique's mind as to whether to pursue him as a target or not.
Whenever Los Che have played Barcelona, Feghouli has given Jordi Alba a thorough examination of his defensive credentials.
A player who likes to get in the thick of the action, Feghouli is at his best when involved at the coal face. His trickery as well as his pace enable him to outwit even the most defensive of left-backs, and Alba is far from that.
Barca's own express train may need to slow down his forays into opposition territory for fear of being left exposed.
Key Battle
Joao Cancelo's suspension couldn't have come at a worse time for Valencia as it has left them exposed down the right side.
Antonio Barragan has only played in six games in all competitions this season, per WhoScored.com, and just half of those have been for the full 90 minutes.
Given an expected rustiness to his play, the last thing that the reserve right-back needs is to be in direct combat with the form player in La Liga right now, Neymar.
The Brazilian is enjoying his richest vein of form since signing for the Blaugrana and has 13 goals, eight assists and seven man-of-the-match awards in his last 10 games for Barca, per WhoScored.
"The evolution of Neymar's stats with Barcelona every season since 2013-14. (@barcanumbers) pic.twitter.com/J1A65xep5o
— The Catalan Giant (@TheCatalanGiant) December 1, 2015"
There's little doubt that Neymar will be direct in his attacking play and will aim to put pressure on Barragan at every opportunity.
Ruben Vezo will be loath to cover his wide man for fear of leaving wide open spaces centrally for Suarez or a roving Messi so Barragan needs to find the solution quickly to what could otherwise be a problematic 90 minutes for him.
Odds
Valencia win 7/2
Barcelona win 50/77
Draw 16/5
Pre-match odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
