Barcelona 1-0 Valencia – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. Barcelona won and the odds shortened up a lot before kick-off. From @ 1.48 down to around @ 1.37.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest. The handicap of -1 for the host Barca was a push and the right result for certain. Valencia was very disappointing with the numerical advantage (from around the hour mark), but played well in the first half of the match. They just lacked the confidence and quality to turn promise into a good shot on goal.
Looking at The Under/Over goal betting last of all, where the line was set at 2.5. As mentioned in the preview, Barcelona would settle for was yet another 1-0 win. This game was dull and very much an ‘unders’ affair. Under won @ 1.95.
Match Summary
Barcelona won 1-0 in a forgettable game and performance.
The casual home side began reasonably well but soon after scoring from a goal wonderfully made by Busquets, the standard of their football diminished notably. It became a drab performance without spark or intensity.
Often due to poor use of the ball by the host, Valencia had the odd chance scattered over the course of the game but always snatched and wasted them.
Ironically, most of the visitors openings came before Barcelona were reduced to ten men midway through the second half.
The Catalan giant made the game ugly once Araujo was sent off around the hour mark, but in truth never looked likely to score goals or even generate chances.
While it’s true Barcelona didn’t look like adding to the Raphinia goal, they also managed the match very well once down to ten men. Fair scores 2-1, 1-1 and 1-0.
The fans didn’t enjoy the game much and had to suffer at times.
The support of Barcelona was also angry over a player squabble over the taker of a penalty which was subsequently missed.
Another setback for club and fans was a red card for key man Ronaldo Araujo, who now misses out important matches.
Facing the league leaders while occupying a place in the relegation zone, Valencia gave a good account of themselves in the first half.
However, Los Che were carved open by an exquisite pass from Sergio Busquets on the quarter-hour, which Raphinia reached ahead of Mamardashvili to head in for 1-0.
Barça looked in control for a period following the goal, although Valencia always posed some threat on quick breaks as the half grew older. On one of them, Jesús Vázquez did well to tee up Thierry Correia for an opportunity that was ultimately headed wide.
Ansu Fati made a mess of a header at the other end from Raphinha’s inviting cross, and things just started to get a little nervy.
With Barcelona stuck in first gear and looking average, Ronald Araújo then blocked Lino’s effort to keep his side ahead.
In the second half Barcelona got a cheap penalty when Hugo Guillamón handled Jules Koundé’s effort in a busy area.
Ferran Torres won the argument over who would take the kick, but hit an atrocious spot-kick wide of the net..
The hosts were then reduced to 10 men when Araújo pulled down Hugo Duro following a bad back header from Kounde.
A Barcelona backline that’s conceded just one league goal at Camp Nou this season saw out their 10th win in 12 home La Liga matches this term. To be fair, they focused more with ten men and kept the ball for long periods. It was dire to watch but effective to see out the narrow win to nil.
