VALLADOLID, Spain — Barcelona dey set to face Real Valladolid for Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Saturday evening. Dis match dey critical as Barcelona dey fight to clinch La Liga title, while Valladolid don already relegate.
Dem hosts, Real Valladolid, don suffer throughout dis season, managing only 16 points from 33 games, and nine points behind second-to-last place. Dem face Barcelona who dey four points clear at di summit with five more matches to play.
Barcelona dey come into dis match after a successful first leg of Champions League semi-final wherein dem dey keep dem treble hopes alive. If dem fit win dis match, dem go stretch dem lead to seven points ahead of Real Madrid.
“Every match from here on is a final for us,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick talk about di game. “We must focus and ensure we collect three important points to stay on track for di title.”
For Valladolid side, dem don easily accept dem relegation after dem experience a heavy 7-0 defeat in di reverse fixture earlier dis season. Dem dey only fight for pride in dis encounter.
“We know say dis season no go as we plan, but we wan end am well,” Valladolid coach Paulo Pezzolano explain. “We don face big teams, and we no wan go down without showing our strength.”
Valladolid go miss di services of goalkeeper Karl Hein, defender Henrique Silva, and Javi Sanchez who dey injured. Dis don leave dem short at the back, forcing Pezzolano to reshuffle his squad.
Winger Raul Moro don shine through di dark season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 29 La Liga appearances, making him the key player for di struggling side.
Meanwhile, Barcelona go also lack key players. Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Marc Bernal all dey ruled out due to injuries. However, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen dey fit to start again after recovering from long-term injury.
“We must adapt, as some key players no dey with us. But just like any team, our aim na to win and secure di title,” ter Stegen said as he looked ahead to di match.
Di expected line-up for Barcelona include ter Stegen, Héctor Fort, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Gerard Martín in defense. Gavi and Eric Garcia go handle midfield duties, while Ferran Torres, Fermín López, and Ansu Fati dey lead di attack.
As dem prepare for di clash, dem both teams dey aware say di outcome go fit dictate di direction of di rest of di season, especially for Barcelona who dey push to secure di title early.
