Barcelona open La Liga 2024-25 season with away clash against Valencia CF at Mestalla
Valencia CF and Barcelona kick off the La Liga 2024-25 season on Saturday, 17 August, with a top-flight fixture at Mestalla Stadium, with kick-off at 20:30 (GMT+1). For Valencia, who finished ninth last season, it is an immediate opportunity to cause an upset on home soil. Barcelona, who ended last season in second place, ten points behind champions Real Madrid, will look to set the tone in the title race under new manager Hansi Flick.
Valencia CF aim for European return with Baraja at the helm
A home fixture against Barcelona as a season opener: for Valencia CF, it doesn't get much tougher than that. Manager Rubén Baraja, in charge at the club since February 2023, made clear progress last season by guiding Valencia from sixteenth to ninth in La Liga. The 49-year-old coach has bigger ambitions, however — a return to European competition, something Los Che last achieved in the 2018-19 season. Summer transfer activity was limited but focused. Valencia strengthened their attack with Dani Gómez (on loan from Levante) and Rafa Mir (on loan from Sevilla), and brought in goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski on a free transfer from Rayo Vallecano. Perhaps more significantly, the club managed to hold on to midfielder Javi Guerra, who stayed put after a proposed move to Atlético Madrid fell through. Pre-season sent mixed signals. Valencia won just two of their seven friendly matches, but closed out preparations on a positive note with a 3-2 victory over Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. Whether that will be enough to generate genuine confidence remains to be seen: in their last 17 competitive home matches against Barcelona, Valencia have managed only one win. Baraja is expected to set his side up in a 4-4-2, with Rafa Mir and Hugo Duro — who contributed thirteen league goals last season — leading the line.
Hansi Flick takes charge as Barcelona set sights on Real Madrid revenge
A new era begins at Barcelona. Following Xavi's dismissal in May, German coach Hansi Flick took over with one primary mission: to close the gap on Real Madrid. That gap stood at a commanding ten points last season, as the Madrid rivals claimed the title in comfortable fashion. The summer transfer window was remarkably quiet for the Catalan giants. Midfielder Dani Olmo was signed from RB Leipzig for €55 million, and forward Pau Víctor arrived from Girona for €2.7 million. Their primary target, however, remained out of reach: winger Nico Williams, the Spanish international, opted to stay at Athletic Club, leaving a potential dream partnership with compatriot Lamine Yamal firmly in the realm of wishful thinking. Pre-season produced a mixed picture. The Joan Gamper Trophy ended in a disappointing 0-3 defeat to Monaco, though earlier in the summer Barcelona had beaten Real Madrid and kept pace with Manchester City and AC Milan. For the trip to Mestalla, Flick appears set to deploy a 4-3-2-1 with Robert Lewandowski leading the attack. Pau Víctor, who caught the eye during pre-season, is waiting in the wings as an impact substitute.
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Source: Sportmonks
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