Barcelona Visits Relegated Valladolid in Crucial La Liga Clash

VALLADOLID, Spain — Barcelona, the leaders of La Liga, will face relegated Real Valladolid on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in a crucial match as they pursue a treble this season. The matchup at Estadio José Zorrilla comes after a 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals and presents an opportunity for Barcelona to extend its lead in the domestic league.

Barcelona currently leads the La Liga table by four points, and a victory against Valladolid would allow them to increase that lead to seven points before Real Madrid faces Celta Vigo on Sunday. Valladolid, on the other hand, has had a dismal season, currently sitting at the bottom of the league with just 16 points. Their relegation was confirmed after a recent loss to Real Betis.

“We have nothing to lose in this match. A win could bring some joy to our fans after a tough season,” said Valladolid coach Álvaro Rubio during the pre-match press conference. His squad is on a 14-game winless streak and has endured an incredible amount of challenges this year.

Injuries complicate matters for both teams. Valladolid will be without goalkeeper Karl Hein and several other key players due to injury, including Javi Sánchez and Henrique Silva. Despite the tough circumstances, Valladolid has shown glimmers of hope through players like midfielder Chuki, who has been a standout performer.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is expected to rotate his squad heavily ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash. Players such as Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Baldé are nearing a return but may not risk their fitness for this match. As a result, Marc-André ter Stegen will return to the starting lineup after recovering from an ACL injury, bringing much-needed experience back to the team.

The last time the teams met, Barcelona delivered a 7-0 defeat to Valladolid, showcasing their dominance. However, Valladolid managed a victory against Barcelona in a previous season, which adds a layer of intrigue to this contest.

Flick emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, stating, “Even with a rotated squad, we need to ensure that we secure the three points against Valladolid. We cannot allow them to accumulate any momentum.”

As the game approaches, both teams are facing significant challenges. Nevertheless, fans will be watching closely to see if Valladolid can produce a surprising performance against the title favorites.