Barcelona will transfer to the highest of the La Liga desk with a victory over European hopefuls Rayo Vallecano on Monday night time.
The Catalan giants loved fairly the weekend with out kicking a ball as each title rivals dropped factors. After Actual Madrid mustered some extent away at Osasuna, Atletico Madrid had been held at dwelling by Celta Vigo having performed a lot of the competition with ten males following Pablo Barrios’ early dismissal.
Hansi Flick’s aspect had fallen behind the 2 Madrid golf equipment within the race following a unproductive finish to 2024, however Monday’s hosts have received three on the bounce to thrust them into a superb place.
Nevertheless, Rayo Vallecano are considered one of La Liga’s kind groups and have confirmed to be nightmarish opposition for La Liga’s greatest. Andoni Iraola’s former assistant, Inigo Perez, has reignited Los Franjirrojos after a tricky 2023/24 marketing campaign within the wake of Iraola’s exit.
Perez’s aspect are environment friendly at each ends of the pitch and able to overwhelming opponents by their high-octane, vertical possession type. Rayo are at the moment sixth in La Liga having didn’t style defeat within the high flight since 1 December.
Right here is 90min’s information to the encounter.
Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano head-to-head report (final 5 video games)
Present kind (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Rayo Vallecano |
|---|---|
|
Sevilla 1-4 Barcelona – 09/02/25 |
Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Actual Valladolid – 07/02/25 |
|
Valencia 0-5 Barcelona – 06/02/25 |
Leganes 0-1 Rayo Vallecano – 31/01/25 |
|
Barcelona 1-0 Alaves – 02/02/25 |
Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Girona – 26/01/25 |
|
Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta – 29/01/25 |
Osasuna 1-1 Rayo Vallecano – 19/01/25 |
|
Barcelona 7-1 Valencia – 26/01/25 |
Actual Sociedad 3-1 Rayo Vallecano – 16/01/25 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/dwell stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
ITVX, Premier Sports activities Participant, LaLigaTV, ITV 4, Premier Sports activities 1 |
|
United States |
fuboTV, ESPN+, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes |
|
Canada |
TSN+ |
Fermin Lopez is in a wealthy vein of kind, however he will not be accessible on Monday after seeing pink towards Sevilla final trip. Dani Olmo will begin because the hosts’ quantity ten in Fermin’s absence.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is stepping up his restoration from a long-term knee damage however stays out of motion, whereas Marc Bernal can be nonetheless sidelined.
Andreas Christensen has barely featured this time period attributable to damage setbacks, and Flick’s set to be with out the Danish defender once more attributable to a muscular downside. Nevertheless, Barca are anticipated to have Ronald Araujo accessible having recovered from an ankle difficulty.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
The guests have a few recent damage considerations from final weekend’s victory over Actual Valladolid, with Sergio Camello and Unai Lopez each choosing up knocks which is about to maintain them out of Monday’s sport.
Joni Montiel stays out with a muscle damage, however Randy Nteka is offered having served his La Liga suspension. The 27-year-old ought to come again into Perez’s aspect and begin up high in Catalonia.
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Diaz, Ciss; De Frutos, Palazon, Garcia; Nteka.
It is a enormous alternative for Flick’s aspect, however Rayo will be sure they should work extremely laborious for all three factors on Monday night time. The guests have taken factors off the 2 Madrid golf equipment this time period, they usually’re greater than able to thwarting a rampant Barca outfit right here.
Bereft of stars however collectively majestic, Rayo ought to have success penetrating Barca’s aggressive defensive position, whereas the hosts’ build-up play will probably be put to the check by the guests’ supreme work with out the ball.
That is sure to be frantic, and Rayo have a shot at securing a memorable consequence, however Barcelona, given the chance that is immediately arisen on the high of the desk, ought to discover an additional gear to recover from the road.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Rayo Vallecano
READ THE LATEST LA LIGA NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
