FC Barcelona and Valencia meet in the Copa del Rey 2019 final. The last act of the competition will be played on Saturday, at 20:00, on Estadio Benito Villamarin (Sevilla).
No less than 54 duels were played between the two bands (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League). The balance is 26 wins for “Catalans”, 13 for Valencia and 15 draws. Ten times in the Spanish Cup, four doubles in the semifinals (3-1 Barcelona) and one in the quarter-finals (Valencia victory). This season, both championship disputes ended, 1-1 against Estadio de Mestalla and 2-2 on the New Camp.
Ernesto Valverde’s band comes to the final without Luis Suarez’s second coach, who is recovering after a knee injury. Also Ousmane Dembele, Arthur, Nelson Semedo and Mar-Andre Ter Stegen are uncertain for the Valencia final.
“The Bats” have managed by a miracle to secure their last Champions League spot in the championship, after they were imposed in the last stage in front of the Valladolid (2-0), while Getafe drew on his own field with Villareal (2-2). It was the third consecutive success in the Valencia championship, all of which came at a minimum of two goals.
Until this last act, Barcelona did not face real difficulties, passing Leonesa (16, 5-1 in general), Levante (8, 4-2 in general), Sevilla (quarter-finals, 6-3 in general) and Real Madrid (semifinals, 4-1 in general). On the other side, Valencia had no inconvenient opponents until the final, Ebro (16th, 3-1 in general), Gijon (8th, 4-2 in general), Getafe (quarter-finals, 3-2 at general) and Betis (semifinals, 3-2 in general) were the teams that stood in the way of the band prepared by Marcelino Garcia Toral.
Probable teams:
FC Barcelona: Cillessen – Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba – Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal – Messi. Malcom, Coutinho;
Valencia: Domenench – Wass, Gabriel, Garay, Gaya – Carlos Soler, Parejo, Kondogbia, Guedes – Rodrigo, Gameiro;
“The Catalans” managed to keep their 26th La Liga title in the history of the club. In the finals with Valencia, they will be looking to win the 3rd season trophy, after the championship and Super Cup of Spain. With 30 trophies won, Barcelona is the most successful team in the history of this competition, but also the champion of the last four editions, the opponent in this finals having only 7 cups. The absences in the championship camp should also motivate the Valencia team, which we expect to score at least one goal.
PREDICTION: Barcelona to win @ 1,58
