The international break is over and FC Barcelona’s Liga campaign resumes this Saturday with an early kick-off (2pm CET) away to Rayo Vallecano.
Barça go into the weekend four points adrift of leaders Girona and two behind Real Madrid, so they are still very much in the hunt, although not since the 5-0 rout of Betis has the team truly looked on fire. El Clásico remains the only league game they have lost all season, but points were dropped against Mallorca and Granada and although they beat Celta, Sevilla, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad and Alavés, all five of those games required comebacks and late winners to get them out of tricky situations.
And Culers around the world will be biting their nails ahead of this weekend’s fixture as well.
Bogey team
Until October 2021, Barça were on an incredible run of 14 straight wins against Rayo, including 7-0, 6-0 and 6-1 demolition jobs, but there has been a worrying change to the narrative of late, with Rayo winning three of the last four meetings and drawing 0-0 in the other, including their first ever win at Spotify Camp Nou. They remain one of just two Liga teams, Granada being the other, that Xavi has yet to beat as Barça coach.
But stats can be used to tell any kind of story. On the plus side, Rayo’s new manager Francisco Rodríguez (since Andoni Iraola left for Bournemouth) has faced Barça seven times in his career and has not won once. Although that should be no cause for complacency. Francisco has got Rayo playing some of the tastier looking football in La Liga this season, but drawing rather than winning games means his side are not higher up the table than they probably should be.
How it stands
Other than an uncharacteristic collapse against Atlético Madrid, which they lost 7-0, no other side had won at Vallecas all season until Girona did so a fortnight ago. Barça now have to replicate that to avoid handing their direct rivals an opportunity to increase the gap at the top of the table.
Girona don’t play until Monday evening, when they’ll be facing Athletic Club at 9pm CET, while Real Madrid face a trip to Cádiz on Sunday at 6.30pm CET. Atlético Madrid, who are two points behind Barça but with a game in hand, and who visit Spotify Camp Nou next week, are at home to Mallorca on Sunday at 9pm CET
Team news
The bad news following the international break concerned Gavi, who has returned with a knee injury that could see him out of action for some time. The midfield is going to dearly miss his presence, but on the flip side, the much-missed Frenkie de Jong has been training with the team this week and has been included in the squad.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been having some back issues this week and Xavi confirmed on Friday that the recent recipient of the Marca Player of the Season award will be sitting this one out, to be replaced by Iñaki Peña. The other injury concern at Barça is captain Sergi Roberto.
Rayo’s big absentee is Álvaro García because of a suspension. That’s good news for Barça because García had scored three goals and given one assist in his six previous encounters with the Catalans.
What they’re saying
The Barça coach knows from experience that Rayo away can be a very challenging trip, and also discussed the situations concerning Gavi and Ter Stegen.
Alejandro Balde also spoke to the media about Saturday’s game and agreed with his manager’s view that this is one of the trickiest road trips of the whole season.
