Copa del Rey: Valencia vs FC Barcelona Odds and Betting Preview

VALENCIA, SPAIN – World and European Champions Barcelona travel to the Mestalla this Wednesday evening to take on Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. Barcelona are the strong favourites for the encounter at a best price of 4/6 (bet £6 to make £4 profit) with Betfred. Valencia are 9/2 with Coral to grab a crucial first leg lead whilst the draw is a 3/1 chance at Ladbrokes.

Barcelona face a tough test in the Copa del Rey this evening as they take on Valencia in the first leg of their semi-final clash. Pep Guardiola’s side impressively dispatched their great rivals Real Madrid in the last round to move within touching distance of their 26th Copa triumph but struggled to recapture that form at the weekend as they laboured to a 0-0 draw with struggling Villarreal.

That result leaves the Blaugrana trailing Jose Mourinho’s men by a full seven points in the La Liga standings, a deficit which will prove difficult to overcome in the coming months and may lead the Catalan club to attach added significance to the Copa. Barcelona have been underperforming on their travels this season with only four victories from ten matches away from the Camp Nou in the league but have won all three of their away matches in the Copa.

Valencia will be looking to capitalise on their fine home record this season as they look to seize an advantage this evening they can try to defend at the Camp Nou next week. Los Che have won all but five of their matches at the Mestalla so far this season and demolished Levante 7-1 on aggregate in the last round to reach this stage of the competition.

Unai Emery’s side are currently only one place behind Barcelona in La Liga and held the champions to a 2-2 draw in their last encounter. Valencia are undoubtedly the underdogs for the tie but have more than enough quality to spring a surprise if Barca fail to match their usual brilliance over the two legs.

Both sides are dealing with several injury worries at the moment, with Spanish Internationals Pedro and Iniesta set to join David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay in the treatment room for the La Liga champions whilst Valencia are likely to be without both Ever Banega and Mehmet Topal for the tie.

In the correct score market, a 1-0 Barcelona victory is the favoured result at a best price of 7/1 with William Hill whilst 2-1 to the visitors is a 15/2 chance at Coral. Valencia are 18/1 with Stan James to run out 1-0 victors whilst 2-0 to the home side is a 33/1 shot at Betfred. Bluesquare go 15/2 on the 1-1 draw.

Five of Barca’s six Copa del Rey matches this season have contained at least three goals and punters expecting another high scoring affair this evening can back over 2.5 goals at 8/11 with Bet365 or over 3.5 at 7/4 with ladbrokes. Totesport offer a best-priced 13/10 on fewer than three goals being scored in the encounter whilst less than two is a 7/2 shot at Stan James.

FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who leads Barcelona’s scoring charts with a remarkable 36 goals so far this season, is the favourite to break the deadlock between the two sides at a best price of 3/1 with Ladbrokes. Alexis Sanchez, who has scored seven league goals in only twelve appearances for the club, is an 11/2 chance in the market with Bet365 whilst former Arsenal favourite Cesc Fabregas is a 6/1 shot with Betfred. Former Real Madrid striker Roberto Soldado, top scorer for Valencia with 20 goals so far this campaign, is the hosts’ top chance to break the deadlock at 7/1 with SkyBet.

Barcelona are massive favourites to qualify for the tie at a best price of just 1/7 with Ladbrokes and are an odds-on 1/3 to win the tournament with Paddy Power. Valencia can be backed to progress at 11/2 with Bet365 and are 8/1 chance to win the competition with the same firm.

The Match Kicks off at 1945 BST with live coverage on Sky Sports 3 and Bet365's live video streaming service. 

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