History favours FC Barcelona in the cup against Valencia

One of Barça’s biggest rivals in Spanish Football comes to town on Wednesday for the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. Valencia will face Luis Enrique’s side in the last four of the competition some four years after the two clubs last met at the same stage of the domestic cup. On that occasion Barça came out on top 3-1 on aggregate before going on claim the trophy by beating Athletic Bilbao in the final.

The two sides have met a total of 19 times in the competition, Barça going through in 10 ties, Valencia six with three meetings coming in the final where the blaugranes have won twice and lost once.

Seventh meeting in the semis coming up

The teams have met at the semi-final stage on six previous occasions. Barça have gone on to reach the final four times when they have faced Valencia in the last four, los che having done so twice.

One good omen for Luis Enrique’s team ahead of the clash with Gary Neville’s team is that every time they have made past Valencia at this stage of the competition, they have gone on to lift the trophy.

* This semi-final went to a play off that Barça won 1-0.