Three talking points ahead of Valencia vs Barcelona | Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Barcelona took Real Betis apart in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by a 5-1 scoreline and the win could not be more comfortable than it turned out.

Tomorrow night, they take on Valencia in the quarterfinal of the tournament but they will not have the home advantage this time around. Traveling to Valencia, they will take to the field at Mestalla in their bid to secure a semifinal berth.

Hansi Flick’s men enter the game freshly off a hard-fought 1-0 win over Deportivo Alaves. While the clash at the weekend was a virtually must-win game for the league standings, tomorrow’s game also carries the same tag albeit with more immediate consequences.

A defeat tomorrow will, after all, end Barcelona’s hopes in the Copa del Rey and send them crashing out. A win will not secure the trophy, but a defeat will secure its absence.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Valencia vs Barcelona.

A recent high

While a Copa del Rey clash against Valencia can never be easy, Barcelona head into Thursday night’s game with a renewed sense of confidence and one that is backed up by a recent result.

After all, it has been just under two weeks since the Catalans locked horns against the same opposition in La Liga and the scoreline on the night was reflective of the team’s dominance through the ninety minutes.

The clash at Montjuic ended in a 7-1 win for Barcelona, their biggest margin of victory yet this season, and it is safe to say that the opposition were blown off their feet.

Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski were all on the scoreline on the night in a ruthless game and the Blaugrana can only use it as momentum ahead of the cup game.

More than anything, it is the sheer recency of the result that provides them the much-needed confidence booster.

It will be critical that the dressing room does not get ahead of itself, but it is safe to safe to say that Barcelona enter the game with an inherent psychological advantage.

The attacking midfield dilemma

Another start for Fermin Lopez? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The attacking midfield is perhaps the department where Barcelona and Hansi Flick have the most depth available. Yet, the manager has a big decision to make ahead of the cup clash against Valencia.

Dani Olmo has been the team’s ‘mediapunta’ from the beginning of the season and continues to be one of Flick’s go-to options on the big nights. In fact, it was he who destroyed Real Betis in the last Copa del Rey round, albeit playing as a false nine.

The Spaniard, however, is just returning from injury after weeks and the manager confirmed that he will not be able to start at Mestalla and only an option in the second half.

Gavi, who has taken serious prominence in the department in recent weeks, meanwhile misses the game against Los Che after his concussion in the previous game as part of medical protocol.

With both first-choice attacking midfielders ruled out, it remains to be seen whom Flcick trusts with the start. Fermin Lopez, Pablo Torre, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong are all options, but it is likely that the former starts.

After all, it was Fermin who was the man of the match the last time the two teams faced off as he racked up two goals and as many assists on the night.

The hurdle called Mestalla

Valencia may not be doing too well this season in La Liga, but the Mestalla has always proven to be difficult territory to conquer for Barcelona.

Earlier this season, Hansi Flick’s men took to the field at the challenging venue and brought home a 2-1 win only courtesy of a penalty from Robert Lewandowski but the team has consistently faced a tough time at the venue.

In the last three games Barcelona and Valencia have at Mestalla, the Catalans have scored just four goals and won twice with a one-goal margin.

In fact, the Catalans have only won once in the last three times they have played at Mestalla in the Copa del Rey, proving that the venue is a daunting one to face in a knockout situation.

A win tomorrow will take the team to the final four in the competition and within touching distance of the trophy. To get to that stage, however, they must pass the hurdle called Mestalla and it is clear that they will have to be at their best.