Sabasports Match Preview
LaLiga: Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona
Kickoff Time: 2024-08-28 03:30 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Nacho Doce
In the new season, Rayo Vallecano has had a commendable start, first defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 away and then drawing 0-0 against Getafe, achieving an unbeaten record of one win and one draw. Rayo Vallecano primarily employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on creating offensive opportunities through the active pressing of their midfield and forward players, which also helps alleviate pressure on the defense. However, there are still significant vulnerabilities in Rayo Vallecano’s defense. Particularly when facing counterattacks from opponents, Rayo Vallecano often exposes weaknesses in their defensive line. Additionally, the lack of control in midfield makes it challenging for Rayo Vallecano during defensive transitions. Therefore, adjustments in the transition between offense and defense will directly impact their competitiveness in the league.
In the first two rounds of the new La Liga season, Barcelona has won both matches 2-1 against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, marking a great start with two consecutive victories. This is the first time Barcelona has achieved this since the 2020/21 season, and the arrival of Hans-Dieter Flick has revitalized the team. The outstanding performances of Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal in attack have been key to Barcelona’s success. Additionally, Pedri’s return from injury has somewhat alleviated the midfield crisis. However, Barcelona’s defense remains relatively weak, and finding ways to adjust the defensive efforts of the midfield and forwards to relieve pressure on the backline will be an important issue for Flick to address.
Although Rayo Vallecano’s start has been impressive, their overall strength is still far behind that of Barcelona. Furthermore, from a tactical perspective, Barcelona’s performance in the first two matches has clearly outclassed Rayo Vallecano, with Flick instilling a level of stability in this Barcelona team that has not been seen before. Overall, given Barcelona’s strong form, the team is certainly worth backing.
Rayo Vallecano’s Last 5 Games: DWWLD
24-08-25 Getafe 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
24-08-09 Real Sociedad 1-2 Rayo Vallecano
24-08-30 Wolves 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
24-08-04 Bournemouth 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
24-08-01 Cordoba 1-1 Rayo Vallecano (PEN 4-2)
Barcelona’s Last 5 Games: WWLDW
24-08-25 Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Club
24-08-18 Valencia 1-2 Barcelona
24-08-13 Barcelona 0-3 Monaco
24-08-07 Barcelona 2-2 AC Milan (PEN 3-4)
24-08-04 Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Head To Head Record:
24-05-20 Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
23-11-25 Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Barcelona
23-04-27 Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Barcelona
22-08-14 Barcelona 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
22-04-25 Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Prediction: Barcelona to win