Valladolid vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 08/07/2020, 05:47  by James | Modified on 08/07/2020 at 06:47 in LaLiga Predictions

Barcelona travel to the North-West of Spain to take on Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday night. The reigning champions are second in the table and need results to go their way if they are to have any chance of overturning the four-point deficit between themselves and leaders Real Madrid. Valladolid, 13th in the table, seem destined to finish in a peaceful limbo; Europe is completely out of reach but, more importantly, relegation is almost certainly avoided. One would expect Barcelona to win this encounter as they have done in five of their last six encounters with Valladolid. However, Barca have endured a high-profile struggle to accommodate all of their stars this season with Antoine Griezmann not being properly utilised. The French forward left Atletico Madrid for a fee of nine figures last summer and he has only managed to score an underwhelming nine goals in the league. Away from home, Barca have been particularly disappointing, failing to win three of their last six matches on the road. It is their away form which could ultimately cost them the championship. This is a match they should be able to claim three points from though.

Valladolid have lost four of their last six matches and their home displays are rarely worth tuning in for. Of the 17 matches that they have played at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid have only won four. However, here's the stat that Barca backers should pay attention to: They have only lost three of those matches. Only five teams have lost fewer matches, so this could be a frustrating outing for Lionel Messi and company. Barca will probably play with the urgency of a team chasing a title and we expect Valladolid to play up to that urgency, needling their opponents with every opportunity they get. Back Valladolid with a plus-two handicap.