With eyes set on the Champions League, FC Barcelona faces a LaLiga fixture this Saturday that, on paper, seems manageable: a visit to already-relegated Real Valladolid. However, head coach Hansi Flick does not want his players to relax. Despite injuries and a demanding calendar, the LaLiga EA Sports leaders will look to secure all three points and maintain at least their four-point lead over Real Madrid.

The match will be played this Saturday, May 3, at 3:00 p.m. ET at the José Zorrilla Stadium, in what could be a tense atmosphere. The home fans have announced protests against the management of club president Ronaldo Nazário, which could add pressure to a team already condemned to relegation.

Valladolid vs Barcelona: Kick-off Time and Everything You Need to Know About This LaLiga Clash

This matchday is marked by Barça’s need to conserve energy. After an intense 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinal first leg, Flick is expected to field a rotated lineup, giving rest to key players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Cubarsí, and Iñigo Martínez. One return to the starting XI, however, will be goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who is back from an injury that sidelined him for more than seven months.

Valladolid, on the other hand, is only playing for pride. After a painful 5-1 defeat to Real Betis, Álvaro Rubio’s squad will try to finish the season with dignity. However, the stats are discouraging: just 24 goals scored compared to Barcelona’s 89, and a massive gap in shots on target illustrates the gulf between the two sides.

Barça’s starting eleven may include less regular names like Héctor Fort, Ansu Fati, Pau Víctor, and Eric García, while Valladolid is expected to field Chuki, Moro, and Latasa. The home defense will be weakened by the absences of Javi Sánchez and Aidoo, and Ferreira is likely to return in goal.

The pressure is on Barcelona: a slip-up could dangerously reduce the gap with Real Madrid, their next league opponent. Flick knows it: “You can easily lose this kind of match if you don’t come in with the right attitude,” he warned in the pre-match press conference.

With rotations, crowd protests, and a relegated opponent, the clash between Valladolid and Barcelona will be more than just a formality. For Flick’s men, it’s a mental test ahead of the European challenge in Milan.