Barcelona Form
Last week the team cruised to an emphatic win over Sevilla (5:2). Barcelona scored five goals in La Liga for the first time since December, while that big victory was their third in the last four league rounds. Overall, the Catalans have won seven of their last eight Spanish top-flight matches. The club remain top of the standings, with the gap to their closest challengers Real Madrid still four points. It is also worth noting that Barcelona remain the division’s highest-scoring side, having netted 77 goals since the start of the current season.
- The club have scored in 48 consecutive La Liga matches.
- Barcelona’s all-or-nothing run in this competition has reached 25 games (21 wins, 4 defeats).
- Eight of the last nine league matches involving the Catalans have gone over.
Potential Barcelona Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Joan Garcia – Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Xavi Espart, Gerard Martin – Pedri, Marc Bernal – Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Roony Bardghji – Robert Lewandowski.
Defenders Jules Kounde, Alex Balde and Andreas Christensen, as well as midfielder Frenkie de Jong, are not ready due to injury. Defender Eric Garcia is a doubt for the match.
Rayo Vallecano Form
The club are doing everything they can to stay well clear of the relegation zone. On Monday, Rayo Vallecano snatched a late draw at home against Levante (1:1) despite playing with 10 men. The Madrid outfit have shared the points in four of their last five La Liga matches, while their unbeaten run in this competition has reached six games (2 wins, 4 draws). The team sit 13th in the standings, six points clear of 18th place. It is also worth noting that Rayo Vallecano have scored consistently in eight consecutive La Liga matches.
- The club have not won any of their last eight away matches in La Liga (3 draws, 5 defeats).
- At least two goals have been scored in each of the Madrid side’s last 12 matches in this competition.
- Rayo Vallecano have not conceded more than one goal in each of their last six La Liga matches.
Potential Rayo Vallecano Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Augusto Batalla – Ivan Balliu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, Alfonso Espino – Oscar Valentin, Gerard Gumbau – Pedro Diaz, Jorge De Frutos, Fran Perez – Alemao.
Defender Nobel Mendy is suspended.
* For each team, the starting lineup from their last match in this competition is listed.
