Match preview

Barcelona will enter Sunday's clash off the back of a 5-4 victory over Benfica in the Champions League, and the result secured their spot in the knockout round of the competition with a game to spare.

Hansi Flick's side have also won the Spanish Super Cup this year, beating Real Madrid 5-2 in the final, in addition to securing their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 5-1 success over Real Betis.

However, Barcelona are struggling in La Liga, only winning one of their last eight, with their last success in Spain's top flight proving to be a 5-1 victory over Mallorca at the start of December.

Since then, they have drawn with Real Betis and Getafe, in addition to losing to Leganes and Atletico Madrid, and the Catalan team are third in the table, five points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid and seven from leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona are the leading goalscorers in La Liga this term, finding the back of the net on 52 occasions, but they are finding it difficult to put wins on the board in the league, and another poor result this weekend could potentially put them out of the title race.

Valencia have a record of three wins, seven draws and 10 defeats from their 20 La Liga matches this season, with a total of 16 points leaving them in 19th spot in the table, four points from the safety of 17th position.

Los Che will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this game, though, with that set of results including successes over Eldense and Ourense CF in the Copa del Rey, with the team present in the quarter-finals of the competition against Barcelona.

Valencia have picked up four points from their last two league games, meanwhile, drawing 1-1 with Sevilla in their last away match before beating Real Sociedad 1-0 in front of their own supporters last time out.

The six-time Spanish champions are going in search of their first La Liga win over Barcelona since January 2020, while not since April 2016 have they overcome the Catalan team away from home in Spain's top flight.

Earlier this season, Barcelona were 2-1 winners at Mestalla, but Valencia will be the fresher of the two teams ahead of this match, and there is certainly enough quality in Carlos Corberan's squad to pick up a vital win on Sunday night.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Gasiorowski, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; D Lopez, Almeida, Rioja; Duro