Barcelona will travel to Valencia on Thursday for the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The Catalan giants are aiming for their second trophy under Hansi Flick, having last won the competition in 2020/21. After thrashing Valencia 7-1 in La Liga in January, Barcelona will be full of confidence as they look to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Barcelona’s Recent Form
Barcelona had some difficulties earlier this season, but they have regained their form in recent weeks.
The team is currently on a nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, showing significant improvement under Hansi Flick.
Their performances in La Liga and the Champions League have been solid, keeping them competitive on multiple fronts.
In the league, Barcelona remain within touching distance of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, ensuring they stay in the title race. Their recent Champions League success, where they secured a place in the last 16, has further boosted their confidence. This positive momentum makes them strong favorites against Valencia in the upcoming Copa del Rey quarter-final clash.
Valencia’s Struggles and Recent Improvement
Valencia have endured a difficult season and are fighting to avoid relegation in La Liga. A poor start to the campaign saw them slip down the standings, but there have been signs of progress under Carlos Corberan, who took over as head coach in early 2025.
Since Corberan’s arrival, Valencia have won four of their last seven matches, showing resilience and improvement in their performances.
However, they suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat against Barcelona in their most recent meeting, highlighting the challenges they face. Despite their progress, Valencia will need a strong defensive performance to keep up with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Match Details
- Location: Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain
- Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025
- Kick-off Time: 20:30 GMT / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT
- Referee: Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias
- VAR: Valentin Pizarro Gomez
Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- Valencia: 0 wins
- Barcelona: 4 wins
- Draws: 1
- Last Meeting: Barcelona 7-1 Valencia (26 January 2025, La Liga)
Predicted Score and Lineups
Barcelona are expected to win comfortably, though the scoreline may not be as big as their last meeting. Hansi Flick is likely to field a strong team, including Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal in attack.
Barcelona’s Expected Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen
- Defenders: Cancelo, Koundé, Christensen, Balde
- Midfielders: De Jong, Pedri, Gündoğan
- Forwards: Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal
Valencia’s Expected Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Mamardashvili
- Defenders: Foulquier, Mosquera, Paulista, Gaya
- Midfielders: Pepelu, Guerra, Almeida
- Forwards: Duro, Yaremchuk, Fran Pérez
Final Thoughts
While Valencia have improved, their last defeat against Barcelona showed a clear gap in quality. Barcelona will aim to dominate the match and book their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Fans can expect an exciting game, with Barcelona likely to control possession and create plenty of chances.
