Real Valladolid v Barcelona

JUST OVER THE BAR!! Pau Victor is getting closer and closer to levelling the scoring for Barcelona now! Fermin whips in a delightful cross from a deep position on the right-hand side of the midfield and Victor times his jump well to meet it but can only watch as his header fizzes over the bar. That will certainly be an encouraging sign for Flick.

Barcelona are finding themselves on the ropes here in the early exchanges. Raul Moro once again breaks away and looks to run through with Hector Fort nowhere to be seen, but Araujo arrives in quick time to make the challenge.

Valladolid break away again! It's end to end action here at the Jose Zorilla! The hosts work the ball quickly through midfield and Raul Moro is sent through in behind the Barcelona defence as the flag stays down, but the midfielder only manages a low shot straight at Ter Stegen. Not a bad attempt though, and a clever move there from the home side.

Pau Victor tries an ambitious overhead kick following Dani Rodriguez's cross! What an acrobatic attempt from the youngster! Rodriguez drives down the right and loops a cross into the centre of the box and Pau Victor goes for the glory shot, but can only manage a tame attempt on target in the end.

Sylla follows up Araujo's yellow card with one of his own for a cynical challenge inside Barcelona's half.

Araujo is the first to pick up a booking tonight, talking his way into referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz's book.

Raul Moro will pick up an assist for setting up Ivan Sanchez with a short pass into the final third from the right wing.

It's been a tempered start so far, with Barcelona enjoying more of the ball in the early stages. The visitors knock it around nicely in their own half before Pedri looks to slide the ball through to Fati down the left, but the danger is dealt with comfortably for now.

And we're under way at the Estadio Jose Zorilla!

The teams are making their way out onto the pitch now. Kick-off is coming up very soon, so stay tuned for all the action!

As Flick announced in his pre-match press conference, Ter Stegen makes his long-awaited return following an ACL tear sustained at the start of the season. The German replaces Szczesny in goal amidst a host of other changes for Barcelona, likely with the Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan in mind. Martin, Christensen, Araujo and Fort start in defence, while Fermin, Gavi and Pedri play in midfield. Flick’s preferred front three are all given a rest, with Fati, Pau Victor, and La Masia graduate Dani Rodriguez starting upfront.

Alvaro Rubio makes a handful of changes to the side that lost out to Betis last time out. Ozkacar and Candela replace Perez and Sanchez in defence, while Chuki misses out in midfield in place of Ivan Sanchez. Moro and Anuar start on the wings, with Sylla up front.

BARCELONA SUBS: Inaki Pena, Wojciech Szczesny, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Landry Farre, Pau Cubarsi, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Noah Darvich, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha

REAL VALLADOLID SUBS: Karl Hein, David Torres, Iago Parente, Luis Pérez, Chuki, Florian Grillitsch, Mario Martin, Tamas Nikitscher, Amath Ndiaye, Darwin Machi, Juanmi Latasa, Marcos de Sousa

Table-toppers Barcelona will be looking to continue their dominance in La Liga and extend their cushion at the top of the table as they try to keep Real Madrid at bay in the title race with five matches left in the season. Hansi Flick’s side have a four-point lead over Real Madrid, who play tomorrow, though they have been in impeccable form of late. They have not lost in the league since December, impressively going 14 matches unbeaten in that time. The visitors played out a frenzied 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg in midweek and should be expecting an altogether comfortable outing with one eye likely already on the second leg in midweek.

Basement club Real Valladolid have little to play for tonight but pride as their relegation to the Segunda Division is already confirmed, though they will be pleased to have at least surpassed Sporting Gijon’s record lowest tally of 13 points in a La Liga season. The hosts are currently 20th in La Liga with 16 points to their name. Alvaro Rubio’s side have also lost each of their last seven league games, including a bruising 5-1 defeat to Real Betis last time out, though they have never suffered eight consecutive defeats in their history in the top-flight. That record might soon be broken, though, as they come up against a high-flying Barcelona side tonight.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s La Liga clash between Real Valladolid and Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla!