FC Barcelona beat Valencia 1-0 this Sunday in a difficult match in the match for day 24 of the Spanish League, which was played at the Spotify Camp Nou, where the Catalans played with 10 men due to the expulsion of Ronald Araújo.
In the 16th minute, Sergio Busquets sent a beautiful pass to Raphinha, the Brazilian got ahead of his marker and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to head in an impressive goal.
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The culé team had two great opportunities to extend the distance: first with a screwball shot from ‘Raphinha’ that went slightly wide in minute 23 and then with a shot by Ferran Torres from the edge of the area in minute 31 that Giorgi Mamardashvili cleared .
For its part, Valencia’s best chance of scoring was a header from Thierry Correia in the 33rd minute that licked the left post of Marc-André Ter Stegen.
SECOND TIME
Barça wasted a penalty by the hand of Hugo Guillamón after a shot by Jules Koundé. Ferran Torres took the ball to collect and his shot went to one side, he missed it, at 56′.
Three minutes later, referee Javier Alberola Rojas showed Ronald Araújo a direct red card. The Uruguayan defender fouled Hugo Duro when he escaped alone towards the Catalan goal.
Five minutes from the end, Barcelona was saved from the fact that the referee did not award a penalty against them due to a very clear foul by Franck Kessié on Fran Pérez. The controversial play was not reviewed in VAR.
NEWS IN THE 11
Without Gavi, who in many of the last games performed the functions of fourth forward midfielder, Xavi is likely to return to the classic 4-3-3, with Ansu Fati as ‘9’ and Raphael Dias ‘Raphina’ and Ferran Torres on the wings . The offensive losses have caused the forwards of the subsidiary Ángel Alarcón and Estanis Pedrola to repeat in the call.
The Egarense coach does not have much to choose from in the midfield, where he has placed Sergi Roberto, who this week signed his renewal until 2024, to rest Franck Kessié, a starter at the Santiago Bernabéu.
At Barça it was also surprising that Jordi Alba was not a starter. Xavi has all the troops available in the rear. Also Andreas Christensen, who did not play in the Cup Clásico due to a blow to his left ankle from which he has already recovered and is starting.
After the match against Valencia, the Catalans will still have to visit San Mamés to face Athletic Club before the decisive duel between the first and second classified. The Catalan team has four players on penalty: Sergio Busquets, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Ferran Torres.
STARTING LINEUPS:
BARCELONA: Marc-André ter Stegen, Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Frenki de Jong (Franck Kessié, min.46), Raphinha, Ansu Fati (Marcos Alonso, min.61) and Ferran Towers.
VALENCIA: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Thierry Correia, Cenk Özkacar, Eray Cömert (Mouctar Diakhaby, min.54), Jesus Vazquez, Hugo Guillamon, Ilaix Moriba, Andre Almeida, Dimitri Foulquier, Samuel Lino and Hugo Duro.
POSITIONS: Barcelona (1st, 59 points), Valencia (18th, 23 points)
REFEREE: Javier Alberola Rojas (Castilian-La Mancha committee)
ESTADIO: Spotify Camp Nou
TRANSMIT: Sky y Tigo Sports ViX+.
