FC Barcelona Starting 11 Prediction at Valencia

FC Barcelona fell to Antwerp in their final UEFA Champions League group stage match last night, but that match was lacking in true meaning. Barca had already booked passage to the round of 16, and thus did some squad rotation, with manager Xavi giving his youth some more major minutes. Don’t expect that against Valencia on Saturday.

While the Antwerp defeat came in a dead rubber match, the result only increases the pressure on Xavi.

FC Barcelona at Valencia FYIs

Kickoff: Sat. Dec. 16, 8pm, Mestalla, Valencia, Spain

Barca Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction

La Liga Standing: Barca 4th, 34 pts, LWDWW Valencia 11th, 19 pts LLDLW

Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK

Google Result Probability: Barca 58% Draw 24% Valencia 18%

Barca are through to the UCL knockout round for the first time in three seasons, so you can commend Xavi on that. However, Barca have still suffered four losses in their last nine matches, and they only sit fourth in the La Liga table. The defending league champions are seven points off the pace of table topping Girona, and behind arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are dealing with an injury crisis.

So Barca really need to win at Valencia this weekend, and Xavi will field a very strong team at the get go, in order to try and accomplish that. This is what we’re predicting that looks like.