Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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With Inigo Perez looking to emulate Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano, the Madrid-based club have started the season well but now face a tough test against a Barcelona side with back-to-back victories at the start of the Hansi Flick era.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 27th August, 2024 - UK – 8:30pm / US ET – 3:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
RAYO VALLECANO PREVIEW: RAYO OFF TO A RACING START
Rayo Vallecano had a difficult summer last summer and their major off-field issues and chaos perpetrated by their owner and president, that continues to mire them in controversy, have led to another difficult summer but after guiding Rayo to safety last season, 33-year-old Inigo Perez has began life as permanent boss at Vallecas quite well.
The former assistant to Andoni Iraola, who only didn’t join him at Bournemouth due to visa issues, began the season with a shock 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the Basque Country on the opening day. They then followed that up with a goalless draw away to Getafe in a Madrid derby at the weekend.
BARCELONA PREVIEW: ADAPTING TO THE FLICK STYLE
With off-field issues once again making Barcelona quite comical and seemingly not a serious organisation still, such as the free transfer departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City in order to register new signing Dani Olmo, Barca have actually started the season relatively well on the pitch under the management of Hansi Flick.
Both of their games so far this season have seen them enjoy narrow 2-1 victories against Valencia and then a strong Athletic Club side in games in which they have had to work for it. They defeated Athletic at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at the weekend with Robert Lewandowski scoring a late winner for the Blaugrana.
RAYO VALLECANO TEAM NEWS: STILL NO DIEGO MENDEZ
Inigo Perez’ style is similar to Andoni Iraola with an intense press in what is a 4-4-2 system that adapts into more of a 4-2-3-1 out of possession and they are expected to remain unchanged.
For this weekend, they remain without one of their key players in Diego Mendez with Jorge de Frutos and Isi Palazon the key men in attack to get after Barcelona’s potentially vulnerable back-line.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Dani Cardenas; Balliu, Lejeune, Mumin, Alfonso Espino; Oscar Valentin, Ciss; Jorge de Frutos, Oscar Trejo, Adrian Embarba; Nteka
UNAVAILABLE: Diego Mendez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS: EDGING PEDRI BACK
Hansi Flick had to begin the season with Marc Bernal and Marc Casado in midfield on the opening day but Spain international Pedri is inching back to full fitness and may make a second start since returning in the capital city this week.
There are still plenty of injury issues with Andreas Christensen now joining Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ansu Fati on the sidelines for the Catalans.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Marc Bernal, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres; Lewandowski
UNAVAILABLE: Christensen (Injured), Ronald Araujo (Injured), De Jong (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Ansu Fati (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Dani Olmo (Injured)
RAYO VALLECANO VS BARCELONA PREDICTION
Rayo Vallecano welcome Barcelona to the capital and will hope to emulate a couple of the difficult trips that the Catalans have had to Vallecas in recent seasons. Rayo will seek to press high and intensely against Barca, whilst Barcelona still adjust to the new look 4-2-3-1 system that Hansi Flick has implemented which is also expected to revolve around an aggressive press. Barca remain favourites but it could well be quite a cagey affair.
RAYO VALLECANO VS BARCELONA TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
