Rayo Vallecano are aiming to continue their excellent start to the new La Liga campaign, although they face a tough test when facing Barcelona.
Inigo Perez will be one of the happiest managers in Spain following two rounds of matches in the new season. His Rayo Vallecano side had come through the trenches of relegation last season, finishing 17th in the final table, but this time out, they have started their campaign on a positive note ahead of the visit of Barcelona.
Many were left surprised by their away win over Real Sociedad, and they added another point to their tally with a goalless draw with Getafe over the weekend, which was again an away clash. Surprisingly enough, Rayo Vallecano have not played a game at home since the final day of last season when they narrowly lost out to Athletic Club.
All of their pre-season games have been on away grounds, and they have played the first two clashes of the new La Liga campaign on the road. Finally, football comes back to their home soil, with Barcelona the visitors for Rayo Vallecano, as Perez will aim for another positive result and continue their run of decent results from in recent years.
Hansi Flick will be a pleased man after some good enough performances in the new campaign. Barcelona opened their season with an away clash with Valencia and then followed that up with a win over Athletic Club at home, with both games ending with a 2-1 scoreline favouring the Catalans.
Barcelona are just below early pace-setters Celta Vigo in the La Liga standings, with the latter edging them on goal difference. Flick will hope to keep up their good start to the new campaign with another away win under the belt as they take on Rayo Vallecano.
At the weekend, in their clash against Athletic Club, all the focus was on one man that is Nico Williams, who has reportedly rejected a move to Barcelona. However, it was Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski who took over the conversation with their goals that allowed the Catalans to collect the second win of their season.
Team News & Tactics
Rayo Vallecano
Inigo Perez could potentially make a few alterations to his starting eleven ahead of the visit from Barcelona. Rayo Vallecano will continue to miss Andrei Ratiu for this clash with a muscular injury. Otherwise, they have a good enough set of players to take on the challenge ahead .
Perez should refresh the setup slightly ahead of two upcoming games before the international break. One change might see Isi Palazon introduced to the plan and take up the No.10 role, meaning Oscar Trejo could start this contest from the bench.
Perez could also make a change up front with Sergio Camello, which could see Randy Nteka on the bench despite starting the first two games of the season. Now the big question is whether the Rayo Vallecano manager should revert to a 4-4-2 from the Real Sociedad win or keep the 4-2-3-1 shape that he used against Getafe when they take on Barcelona. He might stick with the latter, as this is the blueprint for the upcoming season.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Cardenas; Balliu, Lejeune, Mumin, Espino; Valentin, Ciss; De Frutos, Palazon, Embarba; Camello
Barcelona
Hansi Flick still has a few key players missing through injury, including Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi. There are some doubts whether the Barcelona manager will use key star Pedri in quick successions, although the Spanish international is set to be selected against Rayo Vallecano.
In the last few days they have also lost vital midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who has since returned to former side Manchester City on a free transfer. Meanwhile, there are still doubts about whether Barcelona have managed to register new signing Dani Olmo, as this issue might still take a few days to resolve, meaning the Euro 2024 winner might have to wait a while to make his debut.
Barcelona could also have Fermin Lopez after his extended leave following his participation at the Olympics. He could come straight into the lineup and replace Ferran Torres in the No.10 role. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Key Stats
- Rayo Vallecano have won three of their last six La Liga encounters and lost only once in that run.
- Barcelona have scored at least two goals in their last nine matches in La Liga.
- Barcelona have won their last six matches in La Liga.
- Barcelona have been drawing at half-time and winning at full-time in their last three matches in La Liga.
Player to Watch
Fermin Lopez
Fermin Lopez has had an interesting 2024 so far, after a breakthrough season for boyhood club Barcelona and then winning accolades with Spain. He was a bit-part player at the Euros but played enough minutes to get his medal, and then went on to star at the Olympics, scoring six goals in as many games and clinching the Gold medal.
He now returns to Barcelona with his reputation enhanced and a big task ahead of him. He will likely get his spot in the starting eleven against Rayo Vallecano, with a general expectation for him to become the club’s next considerable import from the La Masia academy.
Prediction
Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano might see their unbeaten start to the new campaign draw to a close when they take on Barcelona, but that should not deter from the positive response they have had so far to last season’s abysmal finish. In what would be a first home game in a long time Perez will hope to have a positive outcome. But the Catalans clearly outshine them in terms of quality on the pitch.
Having conceded in each of their two La Liga games so far, Barcelona might continue on this pattern for a third game running when they travel to Rayo Vallecano. However, they have the quality to get another win in the bag and top La Liga during these mid-week games and heading into the weekend.
