Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano preview, H2H, team news, line-ups and prediction

Barcelona welcome Rayo Valecano to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Sunday in the penultimate game of the 2023-24 Laliga season as they look to tighten their grip on second place.

Xavi Hernandez’s side forfeited their Laliga crown to perennial rivals, Real Madrid and looked destined for a third-place finish in what has been a season of ups and downs for the Blaugrana.

The 44-year-old previously reversed his decision to leave the club at the end of the season but despite finding their feet in their last two matches, results this season have been hugely inconsistent but that can be attributed to injuries and inexperience in some areas.

While some young gems like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Fermin Lopez have shown immense promises, their development can also be attributed to the trust and tutelage of Xavi who has turned those youngsters into world beaters.

Barcelona’s La Masia academy products were on parade on Thursday night as they completely stole the show at the Power Horse Stadium as a Fermin Lopez double and an Héctor Fort assist condemned relegation-bound Almeria to their 23rd loss of the season and 11th at home.

Sitting one point above Girona, Barcelona looked to extend their second-place lead to four points but their performances in the opening minutes of the game looked like the 20th-placed team were going to cause Xavi’s side an upset.

From pressing Barcelona’s defenders with a man-to-man press to playing a high defensive line, the Indálicos looked to make a statement win before bowing out of the Laliga but the Blaugrana withered the early storm from the home side and began to exert themselves in the game.

Lopez rose highest to a brilliant Fort’s cross to give Barcelona the lead in the 15th minute before connecting to Sergi Roberto’s cross to extend the lead as Barca ended the game with a 2:0 win.

The win over Almeria means that Barcelona have now won 10 away matches this season and have ultimately secured second spot with four points ahead of Girona in third.

They now gear up to face Vallecano who are currently sitting in 15th place in the Laliga table.

Vallecano have rode their luck against the big sides this season, drawing the first leg of this clash 1:1 last November before an impressive 1:1 draw against Laliga Champions, Real Madrid in February, while also securing a 0:0 draw against European hopeful, Valencia.

However, Iñigo Pérez’s side have produced a lengthy run of inconsistent results that have seen Los Franjirrojos secure just four wins since Januar. Since the 2:0 win over Getafe on 2nd January, Vallecano have gone on to win just three more games in their last 19, losing nine and drawing six.

In their last Laliga outing, Vallecano’s proficiency in front of goal guided them to a 2:1 win over 19th-placed Granada. Los Franjirrojos were on the back foot for the entire duration of the game and we’re completely dominated by the already relegated Girona side.

Despite having a meagre 31% of the ball, Pérez’s side showed their prolificacy in attack by producing 18 total shots in the match. They also showed defensive solidity as the centre-back pair of Abdul Mumin and Florian Lejeune limited José Ramón Sandoval’s side to only shot on goal.

Lejeune turned goalscorer in the 23rd minute to give Vallecano the lead before Jorge de Frutos extended the lead in the 80th minute. Granada pulled one back with their only shot on target through Lucas Boyé but it wasn’t enough as Los Franjirrojos held on to secure all three points.

They now travel to Barcelona with the hope of securing their seventh-ever victory over the 26-time Laliga champions when they square off on Sunday.

Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano match details

• Date: Sunday, 19 May, 2024
• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
• Kick-off time: 6:00 PM BST, 5:00 PM UTC, 1:00 PM ET
• Referee: Gil Manzano
• VAR: Munuera Montero
• Tickets: Supporters can buy Barcelona tickets online through the club website or via trusted resellers such as Seatsnet.com.

Match stats and head-to-head

• Vallecano are currently on a two-game unbeaten streak against Barcelona, winning 2:1 in the second-leg clash last season, and playing out a 1:1 draw at the El Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas this season.

• These two sides have met 32 times with Barcelona leading in the superior head-to-head with 20 wins while Vallecano have only secured six wins and six matches have ended in a stalemate.

• Among Vallecano’s six draws in 19 matches, three of their last seven matches have ended in a 0:0 stalemate. No other team has recorded more 0:0 draws in that run.

• Barcelona’s 2:0 win over Almeria means the Blaugrana have secured 10 away wins in Laliga this season.

•Vallecano are winless in their last eight away matches and have failed to find the back of the net in seven of their last 10 matches away from home, losing six in that run.

• Having amassed 79 points so far this season, a win will guarantee Xavi’s side second place with a game to spare as Girona currently sits in third place with 75 points, four points adrift of Barcelona.

• Barcelona have scored 74 goals so far, the third-most in Laliga this season behind Girona(75) and Real Madrid(83).

• Vallecano have the joint-lowest number of goals scored in Laliga this season, scoring just 29 goals in 36 matches alongside Mallorca. Only Cadiz have scored less with 25 goals.

Team news

Barcelona will be without Gavi and Frenkie de Jong who are both suffering knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Ronald Araujo remains a doubt for this match after missing Barcelona’s last two matches against Real Sociedad and Almeria with fitness concerns.

Alejandro Balde has stepped up his recuperation from a season-ending hamstring injury by training in the grass. The left-back remains unavailable until the end of the season and will be hoping for a return to the squad during preseason.

Iikay Gundogan is available for selection after serving a one-match suspension against Almeria following an accumulation of five yellow cards.

Diego Mendez remains Vallecano’s longest absentee as the midfielder could potentially be out of the season with an injury.

After having a nearly fit squad in the 0:0 drae against Valencia, Rayo were dealt a huge blow when Isi Palazon suffered a knock in their 2:1 win over Valencia.

Defensive midfielder, Ôscar Valentin was also substituted due to an injury and Pérez will hope either of his two key players recovers in time for the trip to Barcelona on Sunday.

Predicted starting lineup Barcelona predicted starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Fort; Pedri, Roberto, Gundogan; Torres, Fermin, Lewandowski.

Rayo Vallecano predicted starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune, Espino; Ciss, Lopez; Nteka, Trejo, Garcia; Camello.

Prediction

Finishing the season strong will be high on Barcelona’s agenda as they approach their final two matches of the season.

While they’re four points above Girona, losing any of their next two matches could see them drop to third if Girona wins their remaining two matches.

Hence, the Blaugrana will take this match seriously, especially against a Vallecano side that has gotten four points in the last two matches against Xavi’s side.

It will be a tightly contested match but Barca should emerge winners if they convert their chances.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Barcelona.