In-form Valencia to deny Barcelona victory
Almost every week, a strong case can be made for opposing Barcelona on their La Liga travels but on all but one occasion they have prevailed. The evidence for a stumble is stronger than usual this evening as they head to Valencia. Will they trip up? Here's our verdict on tonight's televised games...
Villarreal v Hercules (7pm, Sky Sports 2)
The Yellow Submarine's chances of being Spain's best of the rest have been harmed by their worst run of the season, four successive matches without a win made worse by the fact each setback has come against a bottom-half side, their loss to Levante and draw with Malaga only their second and third home games of the campaign that haven't ended in triumph. Hercules though have taken just two points from a possible 36 on their travels since their historic August success away to Barcelona, failing to score in their last nine ties as visitor so Villarreal won't have a better chance to get back on track. Back them to win to nil at [2.56].
Valencia v Barcelona (9pm, Sky Sports 2)
No matter how much the statistics point to Barcelona coming unstuck on the road, they almost always deliver - achieving unlikely victories away to Osasuna, Espanyol and Real Mallorca among others - but tonight's trip to Valencia is another where they should theoretically stumble, especially with Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol still out injured. Valencia are unbeaten in 11 La Liga outings and have only lost once at home domestically in well over a year, while Barcelona have won only one of their last six at the Mestalla. The Barca lay is therefore worth considering at [1.58] and as their last two in Valencia have finished level, the [4.6] offered on the draw also appeals.
Got any opinions on either match? Share them in the box below...
Published: 2 Mar 2011
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