Valencia vs Barcelona Prediction: the Visitors Will Start With a Win

Prediction for the La Liga match between Valencia vs Barcelona, which will take place on August 17th. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the teams' conditions! Several betting options are available.

Valencia

Before the season started, Levant played seven friendly matches. They won two, drew two, and lost three. Ruben Baraja, who used to play for the club, is still coaching the team. He started in February 2023. Valencia hasn't made many transfers yet. Two players were loaned in, and Dimitrievski came as a free agent. Mira and Gomez were also rented.

Barcelona

Since July 1st, the Catalans have worked with German coach Hans Flick, known for his work with Bayern and the German national team. It's a risky move because the German has no experience working in Spain and doesn't know the local mentality, language, etc. The Catalans let Dest go to PSV and sold Riad, Araujo, Guiu, and Pedrola. They also picked up Girona striker Victor and Leipzig attacking midfielder Olmo. It seems like Dani will be one of the main points of contact between the German coach and the team, along with Lewandowski and ter Stegen, since Olmo is Spanish. However, he has played in the Bundesliga for over four years, having previously joined Leipzig after Croatian Dinamo. Before the season started, Barcelona played five friendly matches. They beat Olot, Manchester City, and Real Madrid but lost to Milan and Monaco.

Expert Betting Tips

Barcelona under the German coach is a bit of a mystery. The squad hasn't changed much, and even Olmo won't be at the team's heart despite the big money they spent on the Spaniard. Flick is an enigma. He had a couple of bright seasons at Bayern but didn't do so well with the German national team. Plus, he hasn't worked in Spain, which is also worth considering.

On the other hand, Valencia has been a disappointment for a while now. Baraja, who came in at the end of last season, didn't do anything to improve things. Under this coach, Valencia scored 1.36 points per game, which isn't exactly championship material. Also, recall that the Levantines have recently been a convenient opponent for the Catalans. We think Barcelona will start the official season with an away win, and we're hoping for a high-scoring match.