Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Barcelona are undoubtedly favourites for this fixture, as the title challengers should overcome Rayo Vallecano, despite the visitors' tremendous success in chasing European football this season.

Barcelona are in excellent form under Hansi Flick, as his style of play has clearly made an imprint on the club. Los Cules are the top scorers of the division, with 64 goals scored in 23 matches and the home side are unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions.

Despite the advantage for Barcelona, Rayo Vallecano could cause Barcelona some problems if the home side have a bad performance - with the visitors in sixth place in the league, chasing a potential European spot.

The visitors are unbeaten in their last four matches but are also without a clean sheet in the previous four meetings between the two teams.

We predict Barcelona will beat Rayo Vallecano in a comfortable home win.

Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano

Title challengers Barcelona look to make progress on the two Madrid sides when they take on European chasing Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.

Date: 17/02/2025
Location: Olimpic Lluis Companys Stadium, Barcelona.
Kick-Off: 8pm

Hansi Flick is enjoying an excellent reign as Barcelona's manager, having already secured silverware in achieving Spanish Super Cup success with an emphatic win against Real Madrid (2-5). In the Champions League, the home side for this fixture finished second in the league phase group, only behind Liverpool in the standings. Barcelona's league standing sees the home side in third place in La Liga, two points behind league leaders Real Madrid. A win for Hansi Flick's side will move them to the top of the league table, even if Real Madrid secures a draw against Osasuna due to the superior goal difference for Barcelona.

Barcelona's performances this season have mainly been down to the attacking threat posed by Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. The two latter, Raphinha and Lewandowski, have been excellent for the home side. Raphinha has provided 19 goal contributions in the league, and Lewandowski has scored 19 goals in the league this season.

Rayo Vallecano are on the hunt for an unexpected European push, with the visitors occupying a top-six spot in the league. Currently, the visitors will be on course to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League, as the away side are four points clear of seventh-placed Real Sociedad. Vallecano could move two points behind Villarreal, should they win, and Villarreal drop any points in their respective game against Valencia.

The game will be available to watch on ITV4 in the UK.

Barcelona Predicted Eleven: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde, Gavi, De Jong, Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, Lewandowski.

Predicted Rayo Vallecano Eleven: Batalla, Ratio, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria, Lopez, Ciss, de Frutos, Palazon, Garcia, Camello.

Recent meetings between the two teams indicate that Barcelona holds a psychological edge for the upcoming match on Monday. They have remained unbeaten in their last three encounters, while Rayo Vallecano has failed to achieve a clean sheet in their past four meetings. Last season, both league matches ended in victories for Barcelona, notably including a 3-0 win at home, featuring two goals from Pedri and one from Robert Lewandowski. Games involving both of these sides tend to be heavily contested affairs, with over 4.5 cards brandished in five of the last six meetings between the two teams.

Barcelona come into this game under excellent form, with the home side having won their last three matches in all competitions and, even more impressively, remaining unbeaten in their previous ten matches. Hansi Flick's side have recorded three consecutive wins against the likes of Sevilla (1-4), Valencia (0-5) and Deportivo Alaves (1-0). In the league, Barcelona have also recorded an impressive win against Valencia (7-1) - meaning they had scored 12 in the league and cup competitions against the side.

At home, Barcelona have an impressive record at their temporary home, having won seven and lost three of their ten home matches this season. The home side have won twice in their last five league fixtures on home soil, with the wins against Valencia (7-1) and Deportivo Alaves (1-0) being the only victories.

Rayo Vallecano are also in impressive form, with the European dream-chasers unbeaten in their last four league matches, having won their last three straight matches in the division. The visitors have recorded notable victories against Real Valladolid (1-0), Girona (2-1) and Leganes (0-1).

Away from home, Rayo Vallecano have a rather modest away record, with 17 points gained from a possible 36 on offer. The visitors are unbeaten in their last five away from home, having recorded two wins and three 1-1 draws against the likes of Osasuna, Real Betis and Villarreal respectively.

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