Barcelona Faces Valladolid Ahead of Crucial Title Clash

VALLADOLID, Spain (AP) — FC Barcelona will face a crucial match against Real Valladolid on Saturday at 9 p.m. local time as they battle for the La Liga title. The game, part of the 34th matchday, comes just a week before El Clásico against Real Madrid, which could decide the championship.

Barcelona enters the match with a four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid, who will play their match the following day. With only five matches left in the season, a win against last-placed Valladolid is essential for the Catalan club.

Notably, Barcelona will be without key players Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, and Pablo Torre due to injuries. Coach Hansi Flick confirmed that goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is set to start despite previous doubts about his fitness.

In their last outing, Barcelona drew 3-3 with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals, showcasing defensive vulnerabilities that they seek to rectify against Valladolid, the team with the weakest attack in La Liga.

Valladolid, relegated to the second division, has suffered through a tough season, recording nearly 25 losses in 33 matches. They have no chance of avoiding relegation, making this match a desperate encounter for them, as they aim to end their season positively.

The probable starting lineup for Barcelona includes Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, Iñigo Martinez; Gavi, Frenkie de Jong; Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres. Flick might implement rotation given their upcoming Champions League match.

Ferran Torres, who has scored in the last two matches, including crucial goals against Real Madrid and Inter Milan, hopes to lead the team’s offense in Lewandowski’s absence.

As the game draws near, both teams are preparing for what promises to be an intense showdown.