Will Barca once again take on their new fearful opponent?
Barcelona start the new season against Rayo Vallecano. All eyes are on the squad for the first league game of the Catalans. Due to financial problems, it is not yet clear whether the new players such as Robert Lewandowski will be able to play.
The visitors have once again been stable in their preparation and hope that they can repeat their sensational away victory from the last encounter last April.
For the clash at Camp Nou between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano, the prediction includes an away win, including a handicap of +1.5 goals for the visitors.
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
The FCB delivered a thriller in recent weeks. However, the plot has no sporting background, but a financial one. Due to the still tense pecuniary situation at the Catalans, they were not able to officially sign the new signings so far.
Although the club’s officials have come up with numerous attempts, such as even more sales of TV money, so far all of these avenues have failed, which is why it is still not clear which players will be starting.
“Lewy” in the stands too?
Even the king transfer in the shape of Robert Lewandowski, who received the go-ahead from Säbener Straße for his move to Barcelona after a long haggling process, is threatened with the role of spectator at the Camp Nou.
Although the Pole has already played in four test matches and scored his first goal in the most recent one against UMAM Pumas and set up two more goals for his team-mates in the 6-0 thumping victory, it remains to be seen whether he will be eligible to play in a competitive match.
Coach Xavi also has to fear for the deployment of other newcomers such as Jules Koundé (Sevilla) in central defence or Raphinha (Leeds) in midfield.
FCB have been stronger at home before
Furthermore, “Barça’s” home strength suffered last season. A whopping five of the 19 home encounters in La Liga ended in defeat – the highest number among the top six teams in the Spanish top flight.
Given the home side’s uncertain situation, which has obviously not been conducive to efficient preparation on the part of the hosts, the odds on at least one goal for the visitors in the clash between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano also offer themselves.
Will “Auba” take his chance?
It could also be worth betting on a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese would benefit from Lewandowski’s possible suspension in the form of a place in the starting eleven and has already scored a goal in three test matches, such as the recent one against UMAM Pumas.
This shows that he is in good early form. The fact that the former Dortmund player also feels at home in Barcelona is shown by his record with the “Blaugrana” last season. In 17 appearances after his transfer from Arsenal during the season, he scored no less than eleven goals.
Depay will play in Serie A in the future
The prediction is supported by the almost certain departure of Memphis Depay this week. The striker will probably be signed by Juventus Turin in the future. His transfer has also been in the offing for some time, as Lewandowski took over his shirt number (9), among other things.
The vice-champion apparently even waived a transfer fee for Depay, as they are once again primarily concerned with saving on salary payments – the biggest obstacle regarding the registration of new players at the 26-time Spanish champions.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Garcia – Balde – Araujo – Roberto – Gavi – Busquets – Pedri – Dembele – Aubameyang – Fati
Last matches played by Barcelona:
Friendly club matches
08/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 6 – 0 Club Universidad Nacional
31/07/2022 – Red Bull New York 0 – 2 FC Barcelona
27/07/2022 – FC Barcelona 2 – 2 Juventus FC
24/07/2022 – Real Madrid 0 – 1 FC Barcelona
20/07/2022 – Inter Miami CF 0 – 6 FC Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano – Statistics & current form
The former lift team managed to hold its own as a promoted team last season. As twelfth, the class was kept quite safely. Coach Andoni Iraola, who had also led the “Franjirrojos
who had already led the “Franjirrojos” to the top flight, was pleased to remain in La Liga.
Now, however, it will probably be a case of relegation once again. The Madrid club’s financial resources are too modest to interest them in the higher spheres of the Spanish football league.
Test phase went hopefully
However, the preparation was already promising from the point of view of the team from Vallecas. Although they lost their first test match against the Bundesliga team from Freiburg, they did not lose any of their five other preparation matches.
Moreover, this was not due to the fact that they only played against lower-class teams. On the contrary, they were held to a draw by Manchester United, among others, and recorded a draw in their last test match against Valladolid, who were promoted from La Liga.
The club from the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas also managed to retain important attacking players such as Radamel Falcao and the team’s best provider of assists, Oscar Trejo, and should be able to rely on a comparatively well-rehearsed team at the start of the season without any major teething problems.
Predicted line-up of Rayo Vallecano:
Lopez D. – Balliu – Camello – Catena – Hernandez – Lejeune – Lopez U. – Nteka – Pozo – Sanchez – Valentin
Last matches played by Rayo Vallecano:
Friendly club matches
05/08/2022 – Rayo Vallecano 0 – 0 Real Valladolid
31/07/2022 – Manchester United 1 – 1 Rayo Vallecano
28/07/2022 – Leganes 1 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
23/07/2022 – Birmingham 2 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
21/07/2022 – Sheffield Wednesday 0 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
Barcelona – Rayo Vallecano Direct comparison / H2H record
As mentioned at the beginning, the “Vallecanos” prevailed in the last meeting against the FCB away. The underdogs won 1:0 and even achieved their second win in a row in this pairing!
Barcelona – Rayo Vallecano Spain Tip
These are wild times at the 31-time Copa del Rey winners and five-time Champions League winners. The home side continue to struggle to get their newly signed players into action on matchday one.
Currently, this is not possible because the hosts have too high salary payments and exceed the maximum limit required by the federation.
Of course, even in its old form, the Catalans’ squad is superior to the personnel at their opponents, but the uncertain situation will not have left the players unscathed.
On top of that, it is questionable whether some players will not be a little less motivated than normal, knowing that they are only playing because the newcomers cannot play and their time is actually up.
For the clash between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano, the forecast therefore includes an away win, including a handicap of + 1.5 for the visitors.
The forecast is also supported by the fact that Rayo have already won their last two encounters and therefore do not seem to favour the home side.
