FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.05.2008 12:46

The promise of goals

David Puig

League games involving Barça and Valencia tend to offer goals and spectacle. In 72 games at the Camp Nou, 236 goals have been scored, an average of 3.2 per match.

Barça v Valencia at the Camp Nou always promises action. There have been some top games between the two sides in the past, with plenty of intensity and goalmouth thrills. In 72 league games at the Camp Nou, Barça have won 40, with 149 goals for and 87 against. That’s a total of 236 goals making an average of 3.2 a match.

Memorable games

Some of the clashes have been veritable goal-fests. There was a 6-0 in 1958-59 and two games ended 5-2, in 1933-34 and 1974-75. More recently, Barça won 3-0 in 1999-00 although the highest scoring game of the last few years ended in home defeat, the famous 3-4 in 1997-98.

Overhead kick from Rivaldo and Barça’s last win

Valencia have never been an easy opponent, and in fact they have not been beaten at the Camp Nou since 2000-01. That year, Barça won 3-2 in the last game of the season. It will always be remembered for the spectacular goal scored overhead by Rivaldo in injury time, which sealed the three points for Barcelona and meant they qualified for the next season’s Champions League. But since then Barça have drawn four times with Valencia and lost twice.