With the Champions League semifinals ongoing, Barcelona switch their sights back to La Liga action as they visit bottom-of-the-table Valladolid on Saturday.
Barcelona maintain a four-point lead at the top of the Spanish top flight, meaning they have room for error over the final five matches of the campaign as they look to hold off Real Madrid.
The club has just three days between this match and the second leg of their semifinal matchup against Inter Milan at San Siro, with a spot in the Champions League final still very much in the balance as the aggregate scoreline sits level. Hansi Flick knows he must give due priority to Barca's European endeavours.
Given their competition this weekend has just 16 points from 33 games and has already seen relegation mathematically confirmed, Barcelona can afford to rotate and still be in good shape to keep a firm grip on the title race in La Liga.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
Valladolid vs. Barcelona lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Valladolid captain Javi Sanchez picked up a hamstring injury eight minutes into their recent 5-1 defeat at Real Betis, and his status for this match is uncertain, but it likely leaves him on the sidelines. His replacement on the day, Ghana international Joseph Aidoo is in line to start in the back four
Brazilian left-back Henrique Silva is unlikely to participate, as the 31-year-old was only just signed as a free agent and is still working to gain fitness. Goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal, is out for the foreseeable future with a shoulder injury.
Valladolid predicted XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Ferreira (GK) — Perez, Comert, Aidoo, Aznou — Juric — Chuki, Anuar, Amallah, Moro — Latasa.
Injured: J. Sanchez (hamstring, doubt), H. Silva (fitness, doubt), Hein (shoulder).
Suspended: None.
MORE: All the latest Barcelona news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list
An injury to Barcelona's minutes leader Jules Kounde in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal presents an enormous problem for Hansi Flick. Along with Alejandro Balde also sidelined by injury, Barcelona finished the first leg against Inter on Wednesday with natural center-backs Eric Garcia and Inigo Martinez in the two full-back positions.
Thankfully for Flick, Balde has returned to training, and Saturday's league game presents an opportunity to get him minutes off the bench before a potential starting role on Tuesday in Milan. Still, that means Flick must find two starting full-backs for this weekend's game. Gerard Martin will likely be on the left despite being hooked at halftime of the Champions League draw, while Hector Fort could slot in on the right.
Robert Lewandowski remains out injured, targeting next weekend's Clasico as his potential return, meaning Ferran Torres continues up front, although it's possible Pau Victor starts this weekend to give Torres a break. Gavi may get a rare start here, while Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez, and Ansu Fati could be rotated in as well.
Barcelona predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — Fort, Araujo, Christensen, Gerard Martin — Gavi, E. Garcia — Lamine Yamal, F. Lopez, Fati — Victor.
Injured: Balde (hamstring, doubt), Kounde (foot), Lewandowski (hamstring), Casado (knee), Bernal (ACL).
Suspended: None.
Valladolid vs. Barcelona live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Sat, May 3 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | ESPN Deportes | Fubo USA, ESPN+ |
| Canada | Sat, May 3 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | — | TSN+ |
| UK | Sat, May 3 | 8 p.m. BST | Premier Sports 2 | LaLigaTV, Premier Player |
| Australia | Sun, May 4 | 7 a.m. AEST | beIN Sports 2 | beIN Sports Collect |
| India | Sun, May 4 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | GXR World |
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