Very soon, we will witness the clashes in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. One of the highlights is the meeting between Valencia and Barcelona at "Mestalla". On one hand, the favorite of the match is obvious, as indicated by the bookmakers' preliminary predictions: a victory for the "Bats" is at 7. On the other hand, sensational results in knockout games are not out of the ordinary.
Recently, the Catalan team completely dismantled the "Oranges" in the 21st round of La Liga Despite the risk of Valencia leaving the top division at the end of the season, there was no significant activity in the recent transfer window for the "Oranges". Against significantly stronger opponents, the Spanish specialist regularly starts matches with a formation.
Effective team actions using this formation allow them to maintain compactness in lines and minimize space between players. However, complete disorganization prevents the "Oranges" from maintaining positions during counter-pressing and taking advantage of offside traps. Thierry Correia remains in the team's infirmary. This season, Barcelona is rightfully considered one of the most spectacular teams in Europe.
Hansi Flick's tactical style not only resembles what Pep Guardiola preached but is also quite effective for the current club roster. The "Blaugrana" has already managed to score goals in all competitions by February. A huge emphasis is placed on the flanks, where full-backs often take wider positions, freeing up space in half-spaces for nominal wingers. More than once this season, Raphinha has effectively used his ability to cut inside and deliver a sharp shot. Lamine Yamal is even the team's leader in average shots on goal per game β around 3.
This surely motivates the players. No matter what state the teams are in, personal encounters between Valencia and Barcelona are always intriguing. In 8 out of 10 previous instances, goals were scored by both sides. Interestingly, a similar trend is characteristic of 6 out of 7 recent matches involving the "Blaugrana" this season.
