2024-08-18 03:20:02
Barcelona’s quest to return to the top of La Liga resumes on Saturday when the Blaugrana hit the road to face Valencia at Mestalla Stadium in the teams’ 2024-25 season opener. After lifting the La Liga trophy in 2023, Barca dropped to second place last season, finishing 10 points behind rival Real Madrid. This season Barcelona will be playing their first season under new manager Hansi Flick, who most recently spent two years as manager of the German national team. Meanwhile Valencia are looking to improve upon their ninth-place finish from last season.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Blaugrana are the -145 favorites (risk $145 to win $100) in the latest Barcelona vs. Valencia odds, with Los Ches the +380 underdogs. A draw is priced at +280, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before you lock in your Valencia vs. Barcelona picks or La Liga predictions, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year he was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including Euro qualifying (+6.30 units), the EFL Cup (+4.47), the FA Cup (+3.07), and the Champions League (+3.05), among others.
Now, Green has broken down Valencia vs. Barcelona from every angle and revealed his picks and La Liga predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Barcelona vs. Valencia:
- Barcelona vs. Valencia money line: Barcelona -145, Valencia +380, Draw +280
- Barcelona vs. Valencia over/under: 2.5 goals
- Barcelona vs. Valencia spread: Barcelona -0.5 (-135), Valencia +0.5 (+105)
- BAR: Robert Lewandowski tied for third in La Liga last season in goals (19)
- VAL: Hugo Duro led Valencia last season in goals (13)
- Barcelona vs. Valencia: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Barcelona
The Blaugrana have one of the brightest young stars in the game in Lamine Yamal. Just 17 years old, Yamal was the breakout player of Euro 2024, leading all players in assists (four) while also scoring a goal and helping Spain lift the trophy for a record fourth time. For his efforts he was named the Young Player of the Tournament.
In addition, Barcelona were one of the best away teams in La Liga last season. In 19 road matches, Barca won 11 times, drew six and lost twice. Their 39 away points ranked second in the league, behind only Real Madrid’s 44. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back Valencia
Hugo Duro is coming off a career season for Los Ches. A 24-year-old center forward, Duro led Valencia last season in goals, with 13 on 63 shots. He was rewarded in the offseason with a contract extension that will keep him in Valencia through the 2027-28 season.
In addition, Los Ches have a rising star at goalkeeper in Giorgi Mamardashvili. Nicknamed the Georgian Wall for his shot-stopping prowess, Mamardashvili carried Georgia to a penalty-shootout victory over Greece in March to clinch the country’s appearance in the European Championships, its first major international tournament. At Euro 2024, he led all goalkeepers in saves with 29 (11 more than his closest pursuer) and led Georgia to the knockout stage. See which team to pick here.
How to make Valencia vs. Barcelona picks
Green has broken down the La Liga match from every possible angle. He is leaning Over on the goal total and has locked in two best bets, including one that would pay plus-money. He’s sharing his La Liga picks and analysis only at SportsLine.
So who wins Barcelona vs. Valencia on Saturday, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Valencia vs. Barcelona have all the value, all from the soccer expert who is profitable across multiple leagues, and find out.
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