This Saturday, May 3rd, Real Valladolid will welcome Barcelona to the Estadio José Zorrilla for a pivotal match in La Liga, marking the 34th round of the season.
Recent Performance
Real Valladolid is seeking redemption after suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat against Real Betis in their last outing. The match started with Jesús Rodríguez finding the net early, but his goal was quickly canceled out by Chuki. Subsequently, Cucho Hernández, Isco, Romain Perraud, and Abde Ezzalzouli scored to secure a comprehensive victory for Betis, leaving Valladolid looking to regroup.
In contrast, Barcelona recently played in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. Marcus Thuram made headlines by scoring the fastest semifinal goal in history. However, Barcelona fought back with a record-setting goal from Lamine Yamal and an equalizer from Ferran Torres, keeping their Champions League hopes alive.
League Standings
Currently, Barcelona leads La Liga with 76 points, while Real Valladolid finds itself at the bottom of the table with just 16 points. This stark disparity in performance sets the stage for a compelling matchup that emphasizes the contrasting fortunes of the two teams.
Match Details
- Location: Valladolid, Spain
- Stadium: Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla
- Date: Saturday, May 3
- Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CET
Viewing Information
Fans can catch the match on various networks:
- USA: ESPN Deportes
- Nigeria: Startimes Sports Premium
- UK: Premier Sports 2
Head-to-Head Record
In their last five meetings:
- Real Valladolid: 1 win
- Barcelona: 4 wins
Team News
For Real Valladolid, the challenges continue to mount. They will be without Karl Hein and Henrique Silva, while doubts linger over Javi Sánchez and Kenedy, especially after Sánchez limped off early in the previous match against Betis. Joseph Aidoo may step in to fill the gap, and Darwin Machis and Mamadou Sylla are also in contention to start.
Despite the team's struggles, Raúl Moro has been a standout performer, contributing five goals and four assists in 29 appearances. The winger is expected to retain his position and aim to exploit a Barcelona defense that may be undergoing changes.
On the other side, Barcelona is likely to rotate their lineup significantly after their recent European commitments. Jules Koundé will miss out due to a hamstring injury sustained against Inter, while Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are sidelined with long-term knee injuries. On a positive note, Marc-André ter Stegen is fit to return to the lineup after recovering from his own knee issue.
There is also a chance that Alejandro Balde could see some playing time ahead of the return leg in the Champions League, while Robert Lewandowski is anticipated to be rested. Other players such as Eric García, Ronald Araujo, Fermin López, Gavi, and Ansu Fati are all vying for starting roles as Barcelona aims to maintain their momentum in the title race.
Prediction
While Valladolid has enough attacking talent to pose a threat, their defensive shortcomings are significant. Even a rotated Barcelona squad is expected to have more than enough quality to secure a win. A predicted scoreline of 3-1 in favor of Barcelona seems likely.
Zainab Y.
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