- Date and Time: August 27, 20:30 GMT+1
- Venue: Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
| Odds via 22bet | |
| Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona | August 27, 20:30 GMT+1 |
| Rayo Vallecano odds | 5 |
| Barcelona odds | 1.66 |
| Draw | 3.94 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.85/1.94 |
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Preview
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano is one of the most intriguing teams in La Liga.
Last season, they finished in 17th place, just five points ahead of Cadiz, who ended in the relegation zone. Despite being the second-worst team in the league in terms of goals scored, they ranked 12th in goals conceded. Rayo Vallecano changed their coach during the season, with Iñigo Pérez taking over from Francisco. However, Pérez failed to improve their fortunes.
📸 XI ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/qWhEoIHmul
— Rayo Vallecano (@RayoVallecano) August 24, 2024
Nevertheless, the indicators of expected goals and expected points show that Rayo Vallecano should have finished in seventh place last season. This is because the team scored 17 goals less than expected – a significant underperformance, especially in the top 5 leagues.
This indicates that Rayo Vallecano has a strong foundation and a good chance to improve their results this season.
🍍⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9kLkcl61oY
— Rayo Vallecano (@RayoVallecano) August 24, 2024
However, their pre-season form was not particularly encouraging. Iñigo Pérez’s team played six matches, in which they suffered four defeats, drew once, and won only once. This was hardly the ideal preparation before the league campaign began.
However, Rayo Vallecano started the new season on a positive note as they managed to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the first round.
This was followed by a 0-0 draw against Getafe. Both matches were away games, where Rayo defended resolutely, allowing very few chances on their goal. Defenders Abdul Mumin, Florian Lejeune, and Alfonso Espino were crucial in organizing quick counterattacks.
⚡️ Final del encuentro en Getafe.
➕1⃣ en un partido muy igualado.
Gracias por el apoyo a los rayistas desplazados al Coliseum 👏#GetafeRayo #VamosRayo pic.twitter.com/MaVbYjM2eO
— Rayo Vallecano (@RayoVallecano) August 24, 2024
While Rayo didn’t create many chances in the match against Getafe, they showcased the ability to create chances through swift transitions.
Their upcoming match against Barcelona will be Vallecano’s first home game of the season, and Pérez’s team will undoubtedly aim to maintain their defensive solidity.
| Recent Form | DWWLL |
| Key Players to Watch | Abdul Mumin, Florian Lejeune, Alfonso Espino |
| Team Strengths | Strong defensive line |
| Team Weaknesses | Weak realisation of moments |
| Key Injuries and suspensions | – |
Barcelona
Barcelona suffered a devastating 0-3 loss to Monaco in their last pre-season match but started the new season strongly, winning their first two matches of the new season against Valencia (2-1) and Athletic Bilbao (2-1).
It’s important to note that Hans-Dieter Flick had the opportunity to use all his main players from the first round of La Liga, which explains the excellent results at the start of the season.
𝐋𝐄𝐓’𝐒 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖 pic.twitter.com/vgQh5xU7Pc
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 27, 2024
However, Flick announced plans to rotate the squad for the third-round match and will likely rest some key players. It’s difficult to say exactly who will start in Barcelona’s lineup, but certain changes could affect the overall quality of Barcelona’s game.
In the first two matches against Valencia and Bilbao, Barcelona started attacks in a 4-2-4 formation and ended them in various formations: 3-2-5, 2-2-6, 3-1-6, and 2-1-7. This was because Balde, Kunde, and Pedri actively changed positions depending on their teammates’ positioning.
This season’s first home win! 🤩#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/7zzrnGjaFM
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 27, 2024
But the most interesting thing was not even their strategy but the fact that Hansi Flick allowed more freedom for movements in the central area of the field for Lewandowski, Rafinha, and Ferran (and Fermín López in the second half).
This trio interacted very creatively within the opponent’s midfield, creating numerous high-quality moments. Despite some struggles with finishing, the overall attacking setup looks very promising.
Ready for tomorrow#RayoBarça pic.twitter.com/5IMWpnM2Ug
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 27, 2024
Barcelona used a 4-2-3-1 formation in pressing, which changed depending on the opponents’ positioning. While effective, Barca’s players still need to work on coordinating their pressing.
| Recent Form | DWLLL |
| Key Players to Watch | Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski |
| Team Strengths | Great play in attack |
| Team Weaknesses | Many main players just got back after vacation and don`t have enough game practice |
| Key injuries and suspensions | Gavi, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo,Ansu Fati, Ronald Araújo, Frenkie De Jong |
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Head-to-Head Statistics
Since the fall of 2021, Barcelona has been unable to defeat Rayo Vallecano in five consecutive matches, suffering three losses in the process. In their meeting at the Estadio de Vallecas during the first half of the previous season, the Catalans were held to a draw by the Madrid-based team.
At the end of the previous season, Barcelona finally broke their winless streak in their personal duels, defeating Rayo 3-0.
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Player Focus
Lamine Yamal scored a crucial first goal against Athletic Club. True to his style, he cut in from the right flank and curled the ball into the far corner, showcasing his individual brilliance.
Lamine Yamal ™ 💎#LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/o15zskvfIv
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) August 27, 2024
Such displays of individual skill are particularly valuable for Barcelona at this stage, as the new coach is still in the process of instilling his tactical principles in the team’s game.
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Preview, Tactical Analysis
In the 4-2-3-1 formation, Rayo Vallecano is capable of effectively implementing a high-pressing strategy and occasionally sitting back in a compact defensive block.
It will be interesting to see how Barcelona will create combinations in the center and whether they can maintain the same level of dominance as they have in their previous two matches.
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Prediction
- Football Pick: Barcelona to win
- Odds: 1.66 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona displayed a high level of tactical attacking flexibility and unpredictability in their matches against Valencia and Athletic Club. This adaptability is likely to help the team secure a win in their upcoming match against Rayo.
We hope it didn’t hurt pic.twitter.com/yqXsaYIjJq
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 26, 2024
While Rayo demonstrated strong defensive performances in the first two rounds, they may struggle against the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Robert Lewandowski.
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Prediction, Betting Tip
- Football Pick: Barcelona Total Over 1.5
- Odds: 1.76 (22Bet)
Barcelona has scored more than one goal in 11 out of their last 12 matches, including both official and friendly games. The team’s attacking line is one of the strongest in European football, and Hansi Flick is a fan of proactive attacking football. Therefore, we expect Barcelona to score more than one goal in the match against Rayo Vallecano.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.
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