Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano meet at the Camp Nou this weekend in their final league match before the international break. 

Hansi Flick’s side, who sit on top of the La Liga table, are in a buoyant mood following a 7-2 win over Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League.

Rayo, meanwhile, are looking to pull themselves further away from the relegation zone. The Madrid outfit have enjoyed a surprisingly good record against Barça in recent years, winning three out of nine league encounters since gaining promotion in 2021. They have also secured three draws over that period, including their most recent meeting.

Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano – Match preview and team news

Barcelona team news

After being subbed off early against Newcastle, goalkeeper Joan Garcia has recovered from his injury scare and has been declared fit after positive tests.

Eric Garcia was also subbed early in the same match and remains a doubt with a hamstring issue, but is expected to return this week after being seen in training, while Gavi is now fully fit.

Other absentees include Alejandro Balde (hamstring, mid-April return), Andreas Christensen (cruciate), Jules Koundé and Frenkie de Jong (hamstring, early April), Jofre Torrents (calf), Jules Koundé (hamstring, early April return) and Toni Fernandez (ankle).

Possible changes hinge on Garcia’s inclusion and Eric García’s fitness; if out, Gerard Martín or Ronald Araújo may shift centrally. Flick’s attack stays potent with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski, eyeing a fifth straight league win to maintain their four-point lead.

Rayo Vallecano team news

Absences include defender Diego Mendez with an injury and defender Nobel Mendy through suspension. There are no other major doubts reported as of now.

Form

Barcelona: WWDWW

The league leaders are enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, winning six and drawing the other one at Newcastle United in the Champions League. They destroyed the Magpies at home in the return leg to cruise into the quarter-finals.

Rayo Vallecano

Rayo, who are 14th in the table, have not lost in La Liga since the beginning of February when Real Madrid required a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time to win at the Bernabeu.

They lost on Thursday to Samsunspor, their first defeat in eight matches, but advanced to the last eight of the UEFA Conference League regardless after winning 3-2 on aggregate.

Predicted lineups

Barcelona: J Garcia; Cancelo, Cubarsi, Araujo, Martin; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Ratiu, Balliu, Lejeune, Pacha; Gumbau, Ciss; De Frutos, Diaz, A Garcia; Alemao

How to watch Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano?

You can watch Barcelona take on Rayo Vallecano live in the UK on Premier Sports 1.

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