Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Match Analysis & Prediction
26/04/2023 11:00 pm
League leaders Barcelona will be looking to extend their unbeaten La Liga run to eight matches when they travel to the Estadio de Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the visitors are seeking to return to winning ways as they bit to stay in the mix to secure a spot in Europe for next season.
After ending an eight-game winless run with a 2-1 home victory over Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano suffered their 10th La Liga defeat of the season against Real Sociedad last weekend, losing 2-1 in San Sebastian.
Los Franjirrojos were challenging for a top-six finish earlier this year, and while hopes of European qualification remain alive, their slump in form over the last few months has seen them slip to ninth in the La Liga table, seven points behind Villarreal in sixth place.
However, Andoni Iraola’s side are still on course to improve on last season’s 12th-placed finish and either match or better their highest-ever La Liga position of eighth place achieved in the 2012-13 campaign, with just one point separating them from Osasuna in eighth.
Rayo will be optimistic of coming away with a positive result on Wednesday as they are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Barcelona, with back-to-back 1-0 wins last season followed by a goalless draw at Camp Nou back in August.
Barcelona ended a three-game losing run without scoring across all competitions when they secured a narrow 1-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Xavi’s side currently sit 11 points clear of reigning champions Real Madrid in second place and they are guaranteed to lift the La Liga title if they win five of their final eight matches of the season.
Barce have only lost two league matches all season but both of those took place away from home, with a 3-1 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid in October followed by a surprise 1-0 loss to Almeria in February.
Rayo Vallecano vs. Barcelona Head to head
In the 30 previous meetings between these two teams, Rayo Vallecano have claimed five victories while Barcelona have won 20, and they have drawn in five. Barcelona have scored 84 goals and conceded 25 in the process.
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09/03/2019Barcelona3Rayo Vallecano1La Liga
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27/01/2021Rayo Vallecano1Barcelona2Cope del Rey
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27/10/2021Rayo Vallecano1Barcelona0La Liga
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24/04/2022Barcelona0Rayo Vallecano1La Liga
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13/08/2022Barcelona0Rayo Vallecano0La Liga
Rayo Vallecano Team News
Rayo Vallecano forward Radamel Falcao is ruled out with a muscle injury, while Santi Comesana will serve a one-game ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.
Centre-back Alejandro Catena and winger Alvaro Garcia are both available for selection after serving one-game suspensions, and could replace Abdul Mumin and Andres Martin respectively.
Rayo Vallecano's Last 5 Matches
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18/03/2023Rayo Vallecano2Girona2La Liga
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03/04/2023Valencia1Rayo Vallecano1La Liga
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09/04/2023Rayo Vallecano1Atletico Madrid2La Liga
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14/04/2023Rayo Vallecano2Osasuna1La Liga
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22/04/2023Real Sociedad2Rayo Vallecano1La Liga
Barcelona Team News
Sergi Roberto, Ousmane Dembele (both hamstring) and Andreas Christensen (calf) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Sergio Busquets will serve a one-game ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The absence of Busquets could see Franck Kessie recalled to the starting lineup to operate in the pivot role, with Frenkie De Jong, Gavi and Pedri also battling for a start in centre-midfield.
Barcelona's Last 5 Matches
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01/04/2023Elche0Barcelona4La Liga
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05/04/2023Barcelona0Real Madrid4Copa del Rey
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10/04/2023Barcelona0Girona0La Liga
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16/04/2023Getafe0Barcelona0La Liga
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23/04/2023Barcelona1Atletico Madrid0La Liga
Rayo Vallecano vs. Barcelona: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 2
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