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Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano match preview
Barcelona can turn a promising weekend into a memorable Monday when they host Rayo Vallecano with the chance to go top of LaLiga with victory.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both drew against midtable opponents on Saturday – Atleti at home to Celta Vigo, the leaders away to Osasuna – to surprisingly put Barca within immediate sight of the summit.
“Being top of the table is important, sure – and it can help with confidence,” said manager Hansi Flick after those results.
“But there is a long way to go. We first have to play 90 minutes against Rayo and win, which won’t be easy.”
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To prove Flick’s point, Vallecano are on a nine-match unbeaten league run that has included three consecutive wins, prevailing 1-0 at home to Valladolid and at Leganes since a 2-1 home victory over Girona.
Inigo Perez’s side have drawn 3-3 at home to Madrid during their run, taking a 2-0 lead and recovering after the reigning champions turned the scoreline around.
“We will have to be close to perfection and try to prevent them from being their best,” said Perez, who is in his first managerial role.
“You have to approach these matches in a normal way [while] knowing that it is very, very complex to win. We have to try to add three points. [Our form] has to make us see that, despite the difficulty, we are capable of winning.”
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Barcelona vs Vallecano team news
Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been building up his training but remains in recovery from a ruptured tendon in his right knee sustained in September.
Defender Ronald Araujo was substituted during the 4-1 win at Sevilla last Sunday with an issue but has joined in with some of Barca’s group exercises since then, while midfielder Fermin Lopez is suspended.
Sergio Camello, who scored twice to win Olympic gold for Spain against France at the 2024 Games, is out injured for Vallecano.
Midfielders Unai Lopez and Joni Montiel are also sidelined, while Angola forward Randy Nteka could return, having scored both goals in the win over Girona.
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Barca vs Vallecano expected lineups
Barcelona starting XI: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Rayo Vallecano starting XI: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria, Pathe Ciss, Oscar Valentin, De Frutos, Isi, Alvaro Garcia, Nteka
How to watch Barcelona vs Vallecano: TV channel, live stream
Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage commencing on ITV4 from 19:30, Premier Sports 1 from 19:55, as well as LaLiga TV broadcasting.
The game can be streamed on a vast variety of devices via the ITVX, Premier Sports and LaLiga+ apps.
Barca vs Rayo Vallecano stats
- In 6 of the last 8 Barcelona matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In 6 of the last 8 Barcelona matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 4 of the last 5 Barcelona matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 16 of the last 18 Rayo Vallecano matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Rayo Vallecano have won the last 3 matches in a row while scoring less than 2.5 goals
- Rayo Vallecano have won the last 3 matches in a row in the LaLiga while scoring less than 2.5 goals
- In 7 of the last 9 Rayo Vallecano matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Rayo Vallecano have won the last 3 matches in a row and the sum of goals was under 3.5
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Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano prediction
After a weekend of surprises at the top of LaLiga, Barca face opponents on the best run in their history and with realistic ambitions of reaching next season’s Champions League.
Flick puts Vallecano’s success partly down to their “very intense” approach and ability to press. “They are having a tremendous season and I am sure they will make it difficult for us,” he added.
Barca are on an excellent run of their own, winning six and drawing one of their seven games in Spain since the start of 2025. Vallecano, though, would be top of the table if the season had started on January 1.
“The quality we have shown in the last few games shows we have grown as a group,” said Flick, who has been impressed with his players in training.
Vallecano have a respectable recent record in the fixture, drawing two and winning one of the last five encounters between the teams, although they have lost the last two.
Unai Lopez opened the scoring after nine minutes in the reverse fixture in August before Pedri’s 60th-minute equaliser and an 82nd-minute Dani Olmo goal gave Barca victory.
In-form midfielder Pedri has three goals in his last two games against Vallecano, while opposition winger Alvaro Garcia has three goals and one assist in eight games against the Catalans.
Vallecano can contain Barca and come away with a point that would keep the hosts one behind Atleti and two short of Madrid. But given the incentive for Flick’s players, we predict another hard-earned 2-1 win for the title hopefuls.
