Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·31 August 2026

Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano – Predicted lineup and team news

Barcelona will play their second home game of the season at the Spotify Camp Nou on Monday when they welcome Rayo Vallecano for a La Liga Matchday 2 fixture.

Under Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona have started the new La Liga season in excellent form, claiming victories in both opening matches and sitting top of the table. They began with an emphatic 5-0 win away at Elche, then followed that up with a convincing 2-0 home success against Athletic Club, highlighting a potent attack and a reliable defence.

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Barcelona team news

As they prepare for their Matchday 3 La Liga tie, Barcelona face several midfield absences that have forced Flick to reorganise his options.

Gavi is definitely out after suffering a right knee injury in the season opener against Elche; the club are managing his recovery cautiously with an eye on a mid-September return.

Frenkie de Jong also remains unavailable while he continues to recover from a persistent knee problem dating back to the World Cup, with no clear return date yet.

Long-term absentees Roony Bardghji and Marc Casadó continue to be sidelined. Positively, Lamine Yamal is fully fit and is expected to start despite concerns about his match sharpness after his summer break.

New signing Rodri is also pushing for a first start after a brief substitute appearance last week.