La Liga: Barcelona vs Valencia Odds and Betting Preview

BARCELONA, SPAIN - Sunday evening sees an absolute must-win game for defending champions Barcelona at home to Valencia if they are to keep alive any hope of catching rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Barcelona are heavy favourites to win the game at a best price of 2/7 (bet £7 to win £2) with Ladbrokes, while Valencia are best at 12/1 with Stan James and Bet Victor to come away with a surprise three points. Punters can get 11/2 on the draw, only on Betfair and with Bet Victor.

Both teams are coming off successful trips on the road in Europe this week, although Barcelona have had two extra days to prepare for this meeting. The Catalan side ensured what looks like a smooth entry into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 away victory at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, while Valencia travelled to Stoke City on Thursday in the Europa League, winning 1-0.

Valencia are having a very strong season, placed in 3rd position currently, only eight points behind Barcelona, but seven points clear of Espanyol in fourth place. The two sides met at the Mestalla in the Autumn and drew 2-2, and it is best at 28/1 with Blue Square for a repeat 2-2 draw, while the 1-1 draw is 14/1 on Betfair. Valencia are 10/1 with Stan James to win with a draw no bet, while the away side are 3/1 with Coral and Stan James to win with a (+1) goal handicap. 

Barcelona have an imperious home record however, winning all but one of their 11 home games this season, drawing the only game in which they dropped points at home to Sevilla, 0-0. Of the other ten games they have won all but one of them by two or more goals, and it is 3/4 with Boylesports for Barca to win with a (-1) goal handicap. 8 of their 10 home victories were by three goals or more, and it is 9/5 with Paddy Power for them to win with a (-2) goal handicap. Incredibly, 7 of the 10 victories were by four goals or more, and it is 4/1 with Betfred and Ladbrokes for a Blaugrana win with a (-3) handicap. Barca to win with a (-4) handicap is 7/1 with Bet Victor, something they have achieved in an incredible 50% of their home games. 

Valencia are no weak opposition however, though they have only won four games on the road all season, drawing five and losing two. They have the second best away defence in the league however, and it will need to be at its best tonight to keep out the domestic, European and World champions from scoring. A Valencia clean sheet is 10/1 with Paddy Power, while the side from the southern East coast is 4/1 with William Hill to win either half. 

8 of Barcelona's 10 home victories have been to nil, and with 82% of home games seeing them keep clean sheets, they are 10/11 with both Coral and Paddy Power to keep a clean sheet, and 11/10 with Ladbrokes to win to nil. 

Lionel Messi is 4/7 with Boylesports to score anytime, while Alexis Sanchez is 11/10 with Bet Victor and Cesc Fabregas is best at 6/4 with the same firm. Roberto Soldado will lead the line for Valencia and he is 3/1 with Stan James to get on the scoresheet tonight. 

The match kicks off at 2000 GMT and is live on Sky Sports.

Match Result Odds