La Liga Betting: Barca have the blues but should have enough for Valencia

European Leagues / Dan Fitch / 02 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch gives us the lowdown on the different candidates that may take the manger's job at both Barcelona and Valencia in the summer. But before we get there, what does he make of their match on Sunday?

So that's that then. The moment when Paul Scholes rolled back the years with that 25-yard drive, was the moment when Barcelona's season was put out of its misery. Yes, there were some subsequent 76 minutes and added stoppage time in which Barcelona played some pretty football, but they ultimately lacked the cutting edge to kill off Manchester United.

Well let's face it, Barcelona haven't got much talent up front have they? Now their beleaguered team must try to pick themselves up for Sunday's match against Valencia. Or more likely, they'll just go through the motions and spend most of the match trying not to get injured before Euro 2008.

Valencia should be going all out for a win, as they look to ensure their survival in La Liga. That a squad so laden with talent could find themselves in such a position, is an indication that relatively speaking, their season has been even more of a disappointment than Barcelona's.

This summer, both sides face a massive upheaval, with managerial changes looking likely. Rijkaard is claiming that he has no plans to leave Barcelona, but that's because no manager walks away from a job nowadays without first securing a huge payoff. If Barcelona had any sense they would go for Mourinho, who would be desperate to prove himself at the club where he was once Bobby Robson's number two.

The argument against Mourinho is the style of football his teams play, but how can any side be unattractive with Messi in their ranks? Mourinho would guarantee a title challenge next season and after two years without a trophy, that should be the priority. But with Barcelona supremo Laporta reputedly not keen on Mourniho, it may be that a less controversial option is sought out, such as the highly rated Barca legend Pep Guardiola, who has worked wonders with the club's B team.

Following the sacking of Ronald Koeman, Valencia have been linked to Racing Santander's Marcelino, though it seems as if the club's financial woes will prevent this appointment. Still never mind. If they hang around the City of Manchester stadium come May, they might be able to pick up a certain out of work Swede on the cheap.

The financial crisis will undoubtedly lead to the sale of David Villa, along with anyone else that's worth a bob or two. Whoever takes charge next season will have to build a brand new team, so a period of transition would seem to be the best that Valencia could hope for. This is a crying shame in a league so dominated by two clubs, with Valencia one of the few teams to break the Barca/Real hold on the title in recent years.

Last weekend Valencia beat Osasuna after a run of four straight league defeats and it was no coincidence that this win should come when Koeman was absent from the dugout. I've never forgiven the albino-faced defender for flicking that free kick past the hopelessly out of position David Seaman back in 1993, and it seems as if the Valencia players never took to him either.

The acting Valencia coach Salvador Gonzalez Marco made the sensible decision of recalling Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo back into the squad, after the trio were shunned by Koeman since Christmas. Though only Canizares started, their return seemed to lift Valencia and they easily overcame the 10 men of Osasuna 3-0.

Barcelona rested much of their team for last week's match against Deportivo and as a result, lost 2-0. This brought their recent poor run in La Liga to five games without a win, with only one win in their last nine games. Barca did however beat Valencia at a canter back in December, but to be fair most teams have beaten Valencia at a canter this season.

Barcelona are [1.79] with Valencia [5.1] and the draw [3.85]. I've got a feeling that Barcelona might bounce back from their recent problems, but the price doesn't scream value. The [2.76] for Barca half time/full time might be worth a small punt though, as is the [1.95] for over 2.5 goals.