By Barcelona continue their pursuit of early La Liga frontrunners Real Betis on Tuesday night as they travel to face Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas. The Catalan giants, under new manager Hansi Flick, look to maintain their perfect start to the season after securing 2-1 victories in their opening two fixtures against Valencia and Athletic Club.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 BST (15:30 ET / 12:30 PT) with Cesar Soto appointed as the referee and Jorge Vazquez overseeing VAR duties.
Barcelona’s visit to Madrid comes with added intrigue as summer signing Dani Olmo could finally make his competitive debut for the club. Reports suggest La Liga has accepted Olmo’s registration following the departures of players like Ilkay Gundogan and Clement Lenglet, which helped alleviate the club’s financial constraints.
Flick faces some selection challenges, with midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Gavi sidelined due to injuries. The defensive line is also depleted, as centre-back Ronald Araujo has been joined on the injury list by Andreas Christensen, who is expected to be out for a month with an Achilles problem.
The German coach is likely to field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, protected by a back four of Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Alejandro Balde. The midfield could see Oriol Romeu partnered with Pedri, while the attack may feature Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha supporting Robert Lewandowski.
Rayo Vallecano, also unbeaten this season, have made headlines with the recent signing of 2014 World Cup star James Rodriguez on a free transfer. While Rodriguez may not feature in this match, Vallecano still possess attacking threats, particularly in the form of right-winger Isi Palazon.
The home side is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Stole Dimitrievski in goal, and a defensive line of Ivan Balliu, Florian Lejeune, Abdul Mumin, and Alfonso Espino. The midfield could be anchored by Pathé Ciss and Oscar Valentin, with an attacking quartet of Palazon, Alvaro Garcia, Oscar Trejo, and Sergio Camello.
Recent history between these two sides has been competitive, with Rayo Vallecano securing two wins to Barcelona’s one in their last five encounters, alongside two draws. However, Barcelona won their most recent meeting 3-0 in May 2024.
Given Barcelona’s strong start under Flick and the potential boost from Olmo’s debut, the visitors are favored to secure a narrow victory. The prediction stands at Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona, which would maintain the Catalan club’s perfect start to the La Liga campaign and keep pressure on early leaders Real Betis.
As the match approaches, all eyes will be on Flick’s team selection and tactical approach, as well as the potential impact of new signings like Olmo in Barcelona’s quest to reclaim the La Liga title.
