Mestalla, judge of the first big duel of LaLiga 24/25
Flick’s new Barça starts with losses and doubts in a complicated stadium
BARCELONA, 16 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Mestalla hosts this Saturday a historic duel in LaLiga EA Sports, the clash between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona to open this new 2024/25 league campaign in the best way, with its teams still under construction but with a more consolidated block in the ‘che’, since Hansi Flick has just arrived and still has, in addition to important casualties, to unite the new Barça.
The match will start at 9.30pm and the doubts that both Valencia and Barça have going into the match will begin to dissipate, or not. The ‘Che’, who are not entirely sure about securing some key players, are up against a Barça team that is still under construction, with many casualties and absences and with a new coach who must put things in order.
This fifth-day clash will certainly be very different from the one we will see this Saturday. Perhaps Valencia, who are playing in front of their fans and who have just won the Trofeu Taronja against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2), can benefit from the fact that the new Barça, who are light years away from what they can become, will visit them on the first day.
The dynamics are opposite. Rubén Baraja’s team started the preseason very badly, but their victory in their summer tournament gives them wings. On the other hand, Barça left good feelings in their exhausting and demanding tour of the United States, with good duels against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.
But they invited AS Monaco to their tournament, the Trofeu Joan Gamper, this past Monday and the Monegasques won 0-3, against a visibly exhausted Barça. Something that Hansi Flick himself confirmed, in his first appearance before the media before a La Liga match.
Barça were expected to receive a capital inflow, the result of past ‘leverages’ pending payment, to allow them to reach the LaLiga economic norm of 1:1. So far, this has not been the case and, once again, there are problems registering players. In fact, Iñigo Martínez, who should be a starter, is not registered yet and it will be a last-minute thing.
The only player who has been bought from Girona is Pau Victor, a striker who left a great impression and scored many goals on loan at Barça Atlètic last year. So the only real signing, a new face, is Dani Olmo, a European champion with Spain and who is very exciting, but who on his return home – trained at La Masia – is not yet ready to make his debut. Hansi Flick wants to protect him from injuries after an intense summer and few pre-season training sessions for his legs.
Without Olmo, who joins the injured Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati, plus Fermín López who is on holiday after his Eurocup-Olympic Games double, the good news could be the return of Pedri. According to his new coach, who praised him, he is ready to be a substitute at Mestalla.
Baraja, on the other hand, also has absences; goalkeeper Jaume Doménech and players Diakhaby and Gayà, while Sergi Canós and Fran Pérez are seriously doubtful. In terms of new signings, there are also few signings; striker with a Valencia past Rafa Mir and goalkeeper Dimitrievski, who arrives on a free transfer from Rayo Vallecano and could be a starter in view of the possible sale of Georgian Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is wanted by Premier League teams.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–POSSIBLE LINEUPS.
VALENCIA CF: Dimitrievski; Thierry, Mosquera, Yarek, Jesus Vazquez; Diego Lopez, Guillamon, Pepelu, Almeida; Rafa Mir and Hugo Duro.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Hunter, Gündogan; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha.
–REFEREE: Sanchez Martinez (C. Murciano).
–STADIUM: Mestalla.
–TIME: 21.30/Movistar LaLiga TV.