By Alex Roberts
Rayo have received their final three consecutive league video games, however they haven’t been fairly. Álvaro García’s 71st minute aim was the decider of their earlier fixture in opposition to Actual Valladolid, incomes them a four-point hole between themselves in sixth and Actual Sociedad in seventh – as issues stood heading in to the weekend.
Barca can’t appear to cease scoring objectives beneath Hansi Flick, and now they’ve closed the hole on Actual Madrid on the high, there will likely be an virtually insatiable need to make an actual assertion.
A wealth of attacking choices
It doesn’t matter who Barca play of their entrance three proper now, they’re virtually assured to attain an actual bagful of objectives. Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal had been the principle protagonists within the 5-0 Copa del Rey over Valencia, whereas Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha had been the principle males within the win over Sevilla.
Flick’s aspect are unbeaten throughout their first 11 video games of 2025 throughout all competitions, scoring a exceptional 41 objectives – essentially the most the membership has ever recorded at this stage of a brand new calendar 12 months since 1943.
Barca have scored 5 objectives OR MORE on 5 separate events because the begin of the 12 months. There are worse jobs that been a Rayo Vallecano defender, however it’ll in all probability be fairly dire on Monday evening.
The blue haired bandit
It takes a courageous man to dye his hair blue, and an excellent braver one to do it once they’re within the public eye. Romanian right-back Andrei Rațiu has backed his hair fashion with some spectacular efficiency for Rayo, incomes the reported of none aside from, you guessed it, Barcelona.
Rațiu has been virtually ever current for Rayo to date this season, beginning 20 of his 21 LaLiga video games, scoring as soon as, and offering two assists, enjoying a key position of their cost for European soccer.
He didn’t make it off Rayo’s bench within the reverse fixture, which Barca received 2-1 due to objectives from Pedri and Dani Olmo, so he’ll be eager to show a degree in a possible audition.
Ronald Araújo can’t catch a break
The centre-back had simply signed a brand new deal, preserving him on the Camp Nou till the summer season of 2031 amid critical curiosity from Italian aspect Juventus, however now, he’s picked up one other damage.
Araújo was introduced off after simply 22 minutes within the 4-1 win over Sevilla, changed by teenager Pau Cubarsí, with that gave the impression to be, a fortunately not so critical ankle damage, preserving him out of motion till the top of the month at the least.
He had solely began that includes often within the new 12 months having picked up a hamstring damage whereas enjoying within the 2024 Copa America, forcing him to overlook the primary half of the season.
Simply as issues had been trying up the Uruguay worldwide suffered one more setback.
Prediction
Barcelona have been severely spectacular to date this 12 months. Whereas Rayo are punching about their weight, this one doesn’t look like a bout they’ll win. We’re going to go along with 3-0 to Barca.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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