Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Barcelona will expect to get back to winning ways against Paco Jemez's entertaining but often limited Rayo Vallecano side.
The Lightning head to Camp Nou with a most unenviable record. Per Fussball Wettpoint, in the eight fixtures stretching back to 2011, Barca have won the lot home and away.
Not only that but Rayo have scored just two goals in that time, conceding 37 while Barca have scored four or more in six out of those eight games.
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To their credit, Rayo never play with fear when up against the Blaugrana, but clearly the same hasn't served them well. But Jemez is unlikely to change his approach.
As far back as 2013, he was telling reporters per Football Espana:
"We are the same whether we play against Sevilla, Atletico or Real Madrid.
[...] A pessimistic Coach is bad for a team. We are the first reflex to the dressing room and the players need someone to introduce the optimism, because the mood is important in football.
Life has shown me that the brave are those that succeed, even if sometimes it doesn’t work out. I know how I want to play and how I want my team to win.
Sacrifice, hope and courage are the secrets, because we have less talent than others. We expose ourselves and have gambled so as to narrow the difference.
It is our essence and with the ball at our feet we are doing well. We need to have possession, because we do not have the quality of others and we have to take our chances.
"
It is precisely that attitude that has won Jemez and Rayo friends throughout football. A coach who is not willing to bend and compromise his principles, even if that means his team are on the end of a hammering.
Barca are devoid of some of their top talents, and while it may be stretching it to believe that Rayo will take three points from this one, it could be closer than recent games between the sides.
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 2 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)/beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Form Lines
| Barcelona | Rayo Vallecano |
| L 1-2 vs. Sevilla | L 0-2 vs. Real Betis |
| W 2-1 vs. Bayer Leverkusen | L 2-3 vs. Sevilla |
| W 2-1 vs. Las Palmas | W 2-1 vs. Sporting Gijon |
| L 1-4 vs. Celta Vigo | W 1-0 vs. Las Palmas |
| W 4-1 vs. Levante | L 1-3 vs. Deportivo La Coruna |
| D 1-1 vs. AS Roma | L 0-3 vs. Celta Vigo |
Predicted Formations
Jemez will, as always, go with an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.
Javi Guerra will lead the line for the visitors, but it could be a thankless task up against Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano.
It's imperative that Luis Enrique installs his preferred centre-back pairing as soon as possible in order to give the Blaugrana the best chance of some stability at the back, an area of the pitch where Barca have struggled throughout this season.
Bebe could surprise a few people if he's given a run at Dani Alves. The ex-Manchester United man has been working hard and getting the rewards, including a stunning free-kick against Sevilla.
Jozabed needs to provide more willing and penetrative work than that which he supplied against Real Betis last time out. If he doesn't, he can expect another early exit from proceedings because Jemez needs his side at it from the first whistle.
Adrian Embarba can benefit from the supporting runs of Raul Baena. The 26-year-old has been a driving force for Rayo alongside Roberto Trashorras, and much will depend on the performances of the two deeper-lying midfielders as to how well the Lightning fare on this visit to Catalonia.
Jordi Alba will have a say in just how important the right side is for Rayo. Back to his scuttling best, Alba has a free run if Embarba doesn't stop him at source.
Neymar's trickery and Luis Suarez's superb movement are likely to give Ze Castro and Nacho headaches throughout, and if Munir can reproduce the sort of form that he showed for Spain, Rayo have real problems at the back.
If Ivan Rakitic or Sergi Roberto can work the central space between Trashorras and Baena, forcing both to move slightly more infield, this could well open up the channels from where delivery is crucial.
What's imperative for Jemez and his side is that they don't succumb to the early goal, as has often happened against Barcelona.
Even with some of their best exponents still sidelined, the Catalans are still more than capable of playing their opponents off the park.
With four of the side over 30 years of age, it could be a very long afternoon for Rayo if Barca get off to a flyer.
Player to Watch
Age certainly hasn't wearied Roberto Trashorras. Even at 34, the midfielder is still the player who oils the wheels of this Rayo side.
On par with Xavi Hernandez in the past with his passing accuracy and sheer amount of successful deliveries, if Trashorras is allowed to play, he will provide numerous chances for his front men.
He has the ability to intelligently play between the lines that only comes with a certain amount of experience at the highest levels of the game. The difference between the player and his colleagues is almost embarrassing at times.
Although he couldn't make it to the very top at Barcelona after a sterling career in the Blaugrana junior sides, his schooling is immediately evident in the way he addresses the ball and in his play generally.
Sergi Roberto has a fight on his hands to be able to contain the Rayo captain for the full 90 minutes but will need to continue his good recent form and impose his own game to keep Trashorras' influence to the bare minimum.
Key Battle
Munir El Haddadi still hasn't won over the doubters.
The youngster has had enough chances in the recent past to show that La Masia isn't the pinnacle of his Barca career, but so far, he hasn't taken them.
It would appear Munir is trying just a little too hard to impress and snatching at chances that would otherwise be dispatched with aplomb.
His two-goal showing for Spain's U21s against Georgia during the international break rather rams home the point. Completely comfortable in his surroundings, Munir was deadly.
Up against the veteran Razvan Rat, there is no reason why he can't add his name to the scoresheet and kickstart his senior Barca career.
Rat has been poor this season for Rayo and has looked every one of his 34 years in the four games that he has played.
His passing has been woeful with WhoScored noting an accuracy of 68.8 percent. Such poor distribution has often brought unnecessary pressure both on Rat himself and his defensive colleagues.
If Munir can therefore get at the left-back from the first whistle, there's every chance he can profit.
Odds
The following pre-match odds are available, per Odds Shark.
Barcelona win 2/25
Rayo Vallecano win 25/1
Draw 10/1
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