PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Valencia

After losing El Clásico last week, FC Barcelona know that pretty much any remaining hope of winning La Liga this season has faded to nothing. That loss opened the gap to 11 points with just six games remaining, and Real Madrid have already won one of those, 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Friday night. Mathematically it is still possible, but the most realistic aim now is to secure second place.

And it's not just about the honour of finishing as runners-up, because it would also secure a berth at the Spanish Super Cup next year. Atlético Madrid are still in the hunt, but Barça's most direct rival on that front is fellow Catalan outfit Girona, who have temporarily moved ahead of them thanks to a 2-0 win at Las Palmas on Saturday.

Barça now have the chance to bounce back up into second with a win over Valencia in a Monday 9pm CEST start at the Estadi Olimpic. And after that comes what promises to a huge derby at Montilivi, home of Girona, on Saturday.

Valencia still chasing Europe

But first things first, and that's Valencia, a club for whom the last few seasons have been difficult ones, and this one has been no exception. Once again, los Che are in danger of missing out on Europe. But the results have been picking up of late, and there is still hope of a Conference League place or perhaps even better.

And even though Valencia are not the force they usually are, they are always an opponent that warrants the utmost respect. Indeed, the game earlier this season at Mestalla was a very difficult one for Xavi and his men, who finally took the lead through João Félix but in the end had to settle for a point after Guillamón equalised.

They haven't been easy games, but Barça have still managed to put together a run of seven meetings without loss to the all-whites. The last reverse was in 2020 at Mestalla, while they have not won away to the blaugrana since 2016, when Paco Ayesterán coached them to a 2-1 win at Camp Nou.

Team news

Gavi and Alejandro Balde are both out for the rest of the season, while a new injury concern arose at the Bernabeu last week when Frenkie de Jong had to abandon the field in the first half. The Dutch midfielder has an ankle injury and by the time he is fit again, the season will probably be over.

Diakhaby and Gayà are confirmed absentees for the visiting side, and there are also doubts hanging over the fitness of Roman Yaremchuk.

Xavi says

Before what will be the first game since Xavi made the announcement that he isn't leaving after all, many of the questions at his press conference were on matters others than what for him is the only business that matters right now.

"All we can do is focus on second place" he said. "Valencia won't be an easy opponent. Baraja has done a great job with them and that's the only thing I care about, not planning for next season. And yet that's all you seem to be asking me about!"

"We also still need to make sure of a Champions League place, although at the moment we are very nicely positioned for that. ... We need to turn things around and end the season on a high. And a potential trophy next season, the Super Cup, depends on us finishing second"

"I would like Sergi Roberto to stay but it all depends on him .. He has helped us ever since I arrived here and I hope he stays with us next season."

"We'll decide what do with Vitor Roque at the end of the season. It's not easy to come to Barça from a different league and he needs playing time."