Barca - Valencia the key game in Spain's matchday 32

Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-12 16:31:48|Editor: Lifang
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MADRID, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Matchday 32 sees FC Barcelona play one of their toughest games between now and the end of the season just four days after suffering the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League by AS Roma.

Barcelona have to pick themselves up following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat in Rome to entertain third place Valencia.

While Barca coach Ernesto Valverde will have doubts over the fitness of key players such as Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique, Valencia have had the full week to prepare and travel to the Camp Nou on the back of a run that has seen them win eight and draw one of their last nine games, taking 25 points from a possible 27.

Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele will come into the Barca side and Leo Messi will of course start, but Valverde's main task could be combatting Valencia's in-form midfield duo of Dani Parejo and Geoffrey Kondogbia.

The 32nd round of matches kicks off with two key matches to see who will qualify for next season's Europa League with Betis taking a run of four clean sheets and four straight wins to Girona on Friday night.

Girona's European hopes suffered a major setback with a 5-0 defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend and Friday night's game will show just how much desire they have to play in Europe.

There will also be drama in the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday lunchtime as seventh place Sevilla take on sixth place Villarrreal.

Sevilla have suffered a tough week with their exit from the Champions League following a 4-0 thrashing away to Celta Vigo, while Villarreal lost 3-1 at home to Athletic Club Bilbao and they will be without the suspended Alvaro and Pablo Fornals, who almost passed out on the pitch during Monday's defeat.

Las Palmas need to pick themselves up from the heartbreak of last weekend's defeat to Levante when they entertain Real Sociedad, while Celta Vigo still have a chance of a top-seven finish, but need something from their trip to play mid-table Leganes, before Saturday ends with Athletic Club Bilbao entertaining Deportivo la Coruna, who would move to within 5 points of fourth from bottom Levante if they can win in the San Mames Stadium.

Sunday kicks off with a Basque derby between Eibar and Alaves in a game where neither side have much more than pride at stake.

Second place Atletico Madrid are at home to Levante, who have taken 10 points from the last 12 to move within touching distance of top-flight survival this season, while Getafe face Espanyol in another match where neither side has anything other than pride at stake.

The round of games ends with Real Madrid's visit to play bottom of the table Malaga with Madrid still relieved following the last minute penalty decision which helped them avoid a Champions League humiliation at home to Juventus on Wednesday night.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is likely to continue his policy of squad rotations for the game.

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