Barcelona vs Valladolid Preview: Flick's Men Aim for Perfect Start to La Liga

Barcelona are eyeing their fourth consecutive win in La Liga as they take on Real Valladolid later in the day. Heading into this important fixture, Barcelona have announced their final squad that will take on the Pucelanos.

Barcelona can cement themselves as La Liga leaders going into the international break if they defeat Real Valladolid at the Estadi Olimpic on Saturday evening. Hansi Flick’s side are the only ones with a 100% record after the opening three matchdays, and they will fancy their chances of continuing this against the newly-promoted side.

There are a few notable absentees due to fresh injuries, including defensive midfielder Marc Bernal and centre-back Andreas Christensen. However, Eric Garcia has made the squad and appears to be ready to take on Real Valladolid this evening. It will be interesting to see whether or not Hansi Flick employs him in a defensive midfield role, in the absence of Bernal.

Tuesday’s comeback victory against Rayo Vallecano was bittersweet for the Catalans, as Marc Bernal suffered a season-ending knee injury in the dying stages at Vallecas. Sport say that Marc Casado will take his place in the starting line-up for the visit of Valladolid, with another two change being Dani Olmo to start ahead of Ferran Torres, and Alejandro Balde returning in place of Gerard Martin.

There are quite a lot of youngsters, who will be looking to push for a place in the starting XI tonight, including Marc Casado, who could be a prime beneficiary of Bernal’s injury.

Gerard Martin, too, will hope to retain his place in the left-back position, though Flick is more than likely to bring Alejandro Balde back into the starting eleven.

Barcelona vs Valladolid: Team News

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make two big changes to his starting line up, plus a tactical system change, when his men host Real Valladolid at the Montjuic Stadium in La Liga on Saturday.

Flick is reeling from the loss of teenage defensive midfielder Marc Bernal, who pulled up in stoppage time of the Blaugrana's last outing - a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano - with an ACL rupture. He is expected to miss the rest of the season, after starting all three wins for his boyhood club in 2024/2025 thus far.

“In the Rayo game Bernal did wonderfully, we are going to miss him,” Flick lamented at a prematch press conference on Friday. “It's incredible the game he has at 17 years old, the ideas. When I've rewatched the last three games, what Marc does is incredible. We'll see how we replace him, but I'm happy with what we have.”

Becoming the first Barca manager to win the opening three games of a season since Ernesto Valverde in the title-clinching campaign of 2018/2019, Flick played down talk that he is the man of the moment.

“It's not my job to talk about me, it's not about that. What I can say and see with the rest of my staff is that there is a very special atmosphere, a very good mentality,” he explained. “I love the Spanish players I've worked with, in Munich and here. They have a great mentality. What I see after beating Rayo and after Marc's injury... I have seen the support of the rest of the team for Marc, how united they are. Flick said that this has made him “proud”. “Attitude, teamwork, I love that. We will only win like this, working in unison, in attack and defense. More things will happen during the season...,” he predicted.

During the same press conference, Flick mentioned Marc Casado as a potential replacement for Bernal and he will immediately be brought into the side in a reshuffled 4-1-2-3. Casado sits in front of a back line of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi and Jules Kounde, and behind a more advanced midfield partnership of Pedri and Dani Olmo who were fantastic in the second half at Rayo. Ferran Torres is benched to indirectly make way for Olmo. Up top, it is Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to the left and right of striker Robert Lewandowski, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen captains the side.

Predicted Line-Ups

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Balde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Kounde; Casado; Olmo, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine

Valladolid will have been disappointing at being held at home by Leganes during the week, and head coach Paulo Pezzolano is prepared to shuffle the pack. New signing Eray Comert is set to replace the departed Enzo Boyomo, while Selim Amallah, Ivan Sanchez and Darwin Machis are also on course to start.

Barcelona vs Valladolid: How To Watch

Barcelona will take on Real Valladolid in a Matchday 4 showdown of the 2024/2025 La Liga season, and we’ve got all the crucial details you need. Whether you’re watching on TV or streaming online, this preview covers everything from venue information to live viewing options in your country.

Where and When

Date: August 31, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM (CET)
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona

How To Watch

Fans in India will have the option of watching La Liga 2024-25 matches live streaming online. GXR is the new official streaming partner of La Liga 2024-25 in India and fans can watch the Barcelona vs Valladolid La Liga 2024-25 football match live streaming online for free on its website.

International Viewing Options

Here are some of the broadcast options for fans outside of India:

Argentina: Disney+ Argentina, ESPN2 Argentina
Australia: beIN Sports Connect, beIN SPORTS 2
Canada: TSN+, TSN2
France: beIN SPORTS CONNECT, Free, myCANAL, beIN Sports 2
Germany: DAZN Deutschland, DAZN1 Germany
Indonesia: beIN Sports Connect Indonesia, Vidio, beIN Sports 3 Indonesia
Ireland: Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTV
Italy: DAZN Italy
Malaysia: beIN Sports Connect Malaysia
Mexico: Sky+, Sky Sports Mexico
Netherlands: Ziggo Sport, Ziggo Sport 2
Nigeria: StarTimes App, DStv Now, Canal+ Sport 3 Afrique, SuperSport MáXimo 3, SuperSport Laliga Nigeria, Startimes Sports Premium, SuperSport GOtv LaLiga
Portugal: DAZN Eleven 3, Portugal DAZN Portugal
South Africa: StarTimes App, DStv App, SuperSport MáXimo 3, SuperSport Laliga, Startimes Sports Premium, SuperSport GOtv LaLiga
Spain: Movistar+, M+ LALIGA TV, M+ LALIGA TV 2, LaLiga TV, Bar HD
UAE: beIN SPORTS CONNECT, TOD, beIN Sports HD 3, beIN Sports French 2
UK: Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTV
USA: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Barcelona vs Valladolid: Prediction

Barcelona should be winning this one, as they aim to continue their perfect start to the season. However, Valladolid will not make it easy, despite the obvious gulf in class between the two teams.

Don't Miss Out

With the first international break of the season approaching, both sides will be looking to make a statement in this La Liga clash. Tune in to catch all the action live and witness if Barcelona can maintain their perfect start or if Valladolid can pull off a surprise. This is a match that you do not want to miss!