1 Rayo Vallecano vs 2 FC Barcelona
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| Bet | FC Barcelona |
| Stake | 1 unit |
| Odds | 1.7 |
| Bookmaker | betsson |
Dani Olmo set to feature as Barcelona seeks third consecutive win.
In a midweek La Liga clash, Rayo Vallecano will host high-flying Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas, seeking to maintain their sturdy home form against an in-form Catalan side beset by defensive vulnerabilities.
Rayo Vallecano
The 2024/25 La Liga season saw its first goalless draw as Rayo Vallecano and Getafe played out a stalemate, a disappointing follow-up to Rayo's 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on matchday one. Despite remaining unbeaten in two opening games for the third consecutive season, Rayo's history suggests they could be treading on thin ice heading into their next match.
In the past two seasons, they have suffered a defeat in their third match, including a crushing 7-0 loss to Atlético Madrid last term. With doubts already festering, Rayo will welcome Barcelona to Estadio de Vallecas, a team that handed them an embarrassing 7-0 defeat back in April 2012.
However, there's a silver lining for Iñigo Pérez’s side. Rayo have put up a decent performance in recent encounters on home turf against the Catalans, winning two of the last three home games [2W, 1D, 0L]. Furthermore, their recent home form in La Liga is promising, having avoided defeat in six of their last eight home league games [3W, 3D, 2L].
This should instill some form of confidence as they prepare to host Barcelona in Tuesday's midweek clash. Iñigo Pérez will likely deploy a 4—2—3—1 with Randy Nteka starting in attack. Diego Méndez remains the only confirmed absentee for Rayo Vallecano due to a ligament injury.
FC Barcelona
Barcelona, under new manager Hansi Flick, secured back-to-back victories after the weekend's 2-1 win over Athletic Club. Now on a six-game winning streak, a run that has set the tone for Flick’s tenure, the Catalans will be looking to pick up their third successive victory.
Over the last five away games, Barcelona formed a habit of finding the back of the net twice, with the last two ending in 2-1 victories. While hoping to return as happy travellers once again, Barcelona’s defensive frailties are concerning. The Catalans have struggled to keep clean sheets on the road, conceding nine goals across their last five away league trips.
Olympic gold medallist Fermín López will be looking to find the back of the net once again, having developed a knack for bagging goals on the road, with his last three league goals coming away from home. Hansi Flick is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Robert Lewandowski leading the line.
Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo, and Frenkie De Jong are all ruled out of this fixture due to injuries. Gavi is also on the treatment table. Meanwhile, new arrival Dani Olmo could be set for a debut following earlier troubles with an official registration with La Liga.
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.