Barca recovering from Messi situation
MONDAY 6AM
Barcelona’s season has struggled to get started, but amidst all the negativity it is only five points behind the leader and has a game in hand. It makes this weekend’s clash with Valencia so important, given its opponent is level with it on 12 points. Barcelona lost its most recent match to Atletico Madrid, but main rival Real Madrid also lost that round to create a three-way tie at the top. Barcelona still hasn’t worked out how it wants to play with Lionel Messi not there, but this is the sort of game it must win at home.