******

Valencia have won three of the four games since the start of the second half of the season, drawing one, fully demonstrating the style and quality of the halfway champion.

Barcelona has won 12 consecutive games since losing to Valencia in the fourth round, and has won an astonishing 16 consecutive games including the Champions League and two Copa del Rey quarter-finals, but it is still second in the league behind Valencia with a seven-point disadvantage.

Barcelona and Valencia will therefore be particularly important in the second leg of the season, as the outcome of this game will most likely determine the title of the season, even though the league is only two-thirds of the way through the season.

The match between the two sides happens to be three rounds later, that is, half a month later on February 12, Valencia will meet Barcelona at home, which is currently in terrible form, and once Valencia loses to Barcelona at home, the gap between the two sides will be shortened to four points.

While there is still a third to go in the long season, it is unclear whether Valencia will be able to maintain their four-point advantage.

After all, Barcelona's current form is really good, not only the main midfielders are in excellent form, but even Messi, who has occasionally come off the bench this season, has shown amazing talent.

Coupled with the fact that Valencia lost the game at home, it was definitely a serious blow to the team's morale, and it would also make the players lose confidence and suffer from gains and losses.

But...... What if Valencia win at home to Barcelona in this game? Then the gap between the two sides has widened to 10 points, which means that Valencia has beaten the defending champion Barcelona twice this season, which has laid a good foundation for them on the road to the championship this season!

So...... At this time, "World Sports" took the lead in starting to hype this focus battle after three rounds.

Because this game is very likely to be related to Barcelona's honor throughout the season, and "World Sports" has always been in the same breath as Barcelona, at this time the topic is also to create public opinion, so that Valencia is in a constant state of tension, and Barcelona must be the one who will profit at that time.

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"After the winter break, Valencia have maintained their impressive form, winning three and drawing one in those thirteen days, continuing to maintain their top spot in the table, and they have made a good start in the second half of the season when the competition has become more and more intense, but ...... Can they go on like this forever? No! After three rounds they will host Barcelona, who have won 16 consecutive games in all competitions, and they are a team in particularly good form, having beaten Real Madrid by three goals at the Bernabeu this season! ”

“…… What reason is there for such a good Barcelona not to win at the Mestalla? We have Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o who are in great form, Xavi and Deco in midfield, and talented players like Messi on the bench, who are much better than Valencia in every way, so! This season's title is still in Barcelona's pocket......"

Flores put the newspaper Le Monde Sports back on his desk, and he could already smell the smoke of the spotlight battle after three rounds!

As mentioned in the "World Sports" newspaper just read, Barcelona have won an astonishing 16 consecutive games in all competitions, can Valencia play and win now? Even if it is a home game, it is estimated that it is quite hanging.

You know, they played a 3-0 at the Bernabeu this season.

In great condition!!

Suddenly, Flores felt a pain in her head.

"Forget it, there is still nearly half a month left in this game, let's talk about it later!" Flores rubbed her temples as if muttering to herself.

******

Barcelona first team office building.

After Rijkaard put down the "World Sports" in his hand, he circled the word Valencia with a pen, and then rubbed his temple with his left hand, as if he was closing his eyes and recuperating.

Not really.

His mind kept on demonstrating the possibility of beating Valencia.

If it hadn't been for a bad start to the season, he wouldn't have been seven points behind Valencia by now, and even more unacceptable was the defeat to Valencia at the Camp Nou.

Later, Rijkaard wrote Aylo's name on a blank piece of paper.

After the start of the second half of the season, Eloco scored four goals in two league games, and he was in terrible form, and he also won in the Copa del Rey competition, if it weren't for the second leg of the Copa del Rey 1/8 final at the Mestalla Stadium the day before yesterday, he would have half stepped into the quarterfinals, and it is estimated that he would still have the chance to start.

It is logical to have a goal to score!

Well?

"How does it make sense?" Thinking of this, Rijkaard subconsciously patted his forehead, "If you want to defeat Valencia in Mestalla, this person must be restrained!" ”

In order to win the game against Valencia this time, Rijkaard believes that he should do the following two things, one is to limit Elloh, and the other is to invest more troops in the midfield than Valencia, because Ello and David Villa can score goals in succession, and the support of the midfield is essential!

Because he is a professional football coach, much more professional than those so-called 'brick guys', he only trusts his own judgment! Valencia's attack has been able to create so many chances this season, and a strong midfield configuration is an important factor!

Both of these issues are what Rijkaard needs to solve at the moment!

He then looked at the 05-06 La Liga schedule in the left front of his desk.

Barcelona's next three matches will be against Alaves, Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.

In addition to Atletico Madrid, which was a little difficult to play before the challenge against Valencia, the first two opponents ...... No threat!

It's not that Rijkaard looks down on these two opponents, it's because he has confidence in the team!

Compared to Barcelona facing opponents like Atletico Madrid before the 23rd round of La Liga this season, Valencia's opponents are less weighty, namely Real Betis, who finished fifth last season, then David Villa's former club Zaragoza and Super Laco, who shocked Europe two years ago!

******

Subsequently, two well-known newspapers from Madrid, Marca and As, also joined in the coverage of the match.

Among them, Marca newspaper used a Valencian-biased headline on the front page: "Double against Barcelona? The text reads: "In the fourth round of La Liga this season, Valencia beat Barcelona at Camp Nou, and Ai, who scored a hat-trick in that game, is still in excellent form, and in the two rounds after the start of the winter break, he also showed the consistency of his amazing competitive form, scoring two goals in two consecutive games......"

“…… This time Barcelona is a guest at Mestalla, I'm afraid there will be more than one luck! Although Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o are in excellent form at this time!! However, it will be difficult for them to defend against the 'European Youth Footballer' at the back because he also has a very good assistant - new international David Villa, and in midfield there are players such as Aimar, Vicente and Albelda to assist ......".

Similarly, the newspaper Ace is on Valencia's side.

As the saying goes, the enemy of the enemy is nothing!

Real Madrid's arch-rival Barcelona's enemy Valencia is friends with these mouthpieces, even if Valencia have also beaten Real Madrid this season.

"As" newspaper mentioned in the eye-catching position of the day's 'Real Madrid World': "Although Barcelona has won 12 consecutive rounds of La Liga so far, Valencia is also not weak, and has also won 10 consecutive league games, so Barcelona does not have an absolute advantage in this game, compared to Valencia, the latter has an advantage, because this game is played at the Mestalla Stadium!" They have a reason to beat all the teams that visit!! Including Barcelona!! ”

“…… Valencia's top scorer Ai and second scorer David Villa are both in very high form, but can Barcelona limit these two at this time? Moreover...... Valencia's strength is not in the attack, but in their midfield, with Aimar, Albelda and Baraja all being super midfielders in La Liga, and Ai and David Villa have been able to score so many goals. ”

In this way, under the leadership of three of Spain's most influential sports newspapers, Spanish fans and fans who follow Spanish football began to look forward to the focus of Valencia's home match against Barcelona half a month later!

******

Two days later, Valencia and Barcelona started the twentieth round of the league at the same time.

Barcelona, playing at home, beat Alaves by two goals.

Valencia were not far behind, beating Real Betis by two goals on the road, and Eillo scored twice in this game to help the team win.

A week later, Valencia hosted their 21st round opponents at home, Zaragoza, and there was no suspense in the game, with David Villa and Elo scoring a goal each to win the game.

And Barcelona also seems to be vindictive, and in this round of games, they beat Mallorca by three goals away and won 14 consecutive league wins!

After this round of matches, the two teams will start a new round of intensive fixtures, and the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey will be rekindled next week.

Valencia's opponent in the quarterfinals is still La Liga team, Valladolid!

As long as they don't make two mistakes in this game, they will basically enter the top four!!

Barcelona drew Zaragoza.

From the opponent alone, Valencia clearly has the advantage.

But then after seeing the schedule, Valencia's advantage became even more obvious!

Because Barcelona also have to worry about the next game at home to Atletico Madrid, and ...... It is also necessary to take into account the focus of the 23rd round of the next round.

It can be said that ...... This is the time to test them.

Of course, the game was a test for both teams!

However, who will have the last laugh will have to wait for the verification of time......

ps: Three more later, don't waste it if you have recommended tickets.