3 FC Barcelona vs 0 Rayo Vallecano
Xavi threads tightrope ahead of Rayo Vallecano clash.
Barcelona faces Rayo Vallecano this Sunday at 18:00 [GMT+1] in a high-stakes clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where Xavi's potential departure and Barcelona's hunt for a third consecutive win add extra drama to the encounter.
FC Barcelona
Reports on Friday indicated Xavi could be axed in the coming hours before Barcelona’s next game against Rayo Vallecano. The 44-year-old, who only recently reversed his decision to part ways with the club at the end of the season, may now leave the club in a shocking twist following inflammatory comments made by the coach.
Meanwhile, Barcelona, who are in 2nd place following back-to-back victories [LWLWW], have 79 points [24W, 7D, & 5L]. Barça will be keen to pick up three wins in a row on Sunday when they take on Rayo Vallecano.
The hosts have not lost any of their last seven games at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in LaLiga [6W, 1D, 0L]. However, they have failed to win any of their last five LaLiga games against Rayo Vallecano [0W, 2D, 3L], having won each of the 13 previous league meetings against the visitors.
It remains the club’s worst current winless run in the competition against the same opponent, along with Granada [0W, 4D, 1L]. A 4—3—3 formation with Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, and Yamine Lawal, as seen in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Almeria, is expected in attack.
The game against Almeria was the 100th match in charge for Xavi, who spoke highly of his side after the win. "I have a really professional and committed squad, and we are putting in performances to make it to the Super Cup for next season," he said.
Ilkay Gündogan, who was named in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad, rejoins the team after being suspended for the midweek clash.
Rayo Vallecano
Despite going down to ten men in the first five minutes, Rayo Vallecano secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Granada in the midweek fixtures to remain in the race for La Liga survival. The visitors are six points above the bottom three with two games to go.
They take on Barcelona, hoping to pick up a win for a guaranteed place in the topflight next season. However, the Red Sashes [WLLDW], who have 32 points [8W, 14D, 14L] ahead of Sunday’s clash, have failed to win any of their last eight away games in La Liga [0W, 3D, 5L], going scoreless in their last five.
It is currently the club’s longest away goal drought in the competition since March 1997 [6]. A 4—5—1 formation with Sergio Camello in attack is expected. Oscar Trejo is suspended after receiving a straight red card in the 2-1 victory over Granada on Thursday night.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.