Barcelona v Valencia: Gain in Spain with 2/1 Bet Builder

• Lenient ref looks good for low-card count

• Cubarsi v Duro clash can produce fouls

• Back Bet Builder double at 2/13.00

• Read about Betfair's 90 Minute Payout offer here

Barcelona v Valencia
Monday 29 April, 20:00
Live on Premier Sports 1

Monday's fixture list isn't exactly what you'd call packed and options are limited for props punters.

With nothing really standing out, my approach is therefore to mine the data to try to grab a winner to get us off to a good start to the week.

My choice comes in La Liga's Monday night game which sees Barcelona bid to return to second spot - which brings with it a place in next season's Super Cup - against a Valencia side still harbouring aspirations of qualifying for Europe.

Leg 1: Under 4.5 cards

But while both teams still have plenty to play for as he head into the final month of the campaign, there are good reasons to suggest the card count will be low.

First of all, we've got one of this season's most lenient referees in Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea.

He's averaging just 3.81 cards per game in the Primera Division - only one official has a lower such figure.

Bengoetxea has delivered for under 4.5 cards backers in 11 of his 16 La Liga games this season.

We've also got Valencia involved in this game. They sit second in the fair-play table. Barcelona are a mid-table 11th.

Nine of the last 13 Valencia games have seen under 4.5 cards and with both 2023 encounters between theses sides also coming up on the low side of that line, that bet makes the first leg of our Bet Builder at 5/61.84.

Leg 2: Pau Cubarsi 1+ foul

To complete a 2/13.00 double, I'm going to add Pau Cubarsi for 1+ foul.

The Barcelona centre-back has delivered this in six of his last nine games but, more importantly, he'll be in direct opposition with one of La Liga's most-fouled players, namely Hugo Duro.

Spanish La Liga - Top 5 Fouls Won

Player	Team	Apps	Fouls Won	Fouls Won/90*
Aleix Febas	Elche	36	117	3.3
Vinícius Júnior	Real Madrid	36	81	2.6
Iván Romero	Levante	32	77	3
Germán Valera	Elche	36	71	2.2
Abde Ezzalzouli	Betis	29	71	2.8
Juan Iglesias	Getafe	37	70	2
Federico Viñas	Oviedo	33	69	2.5
Samú Costa	Mallorca	34	68	2.3
Mauro Arambarri	Getafe	37	67	1.9
Aimar Oroz	Osasuna	31	67	2.8

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In terms of fouls per game, only two players in the Spanish top flight have been fouled more often than the Valenica striker, who is fouled 2.5 times per game on average and 2.8 per 90 minutes.

His presence should help the young Barca defender land us the foul needed and, hopefully, deliver a 2/13.00 winner to kick off the new week.

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