Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-08-26 19:30.
[p]The 2024/25 La Liga season saw its first goalless stalemate when Rayo Vallecano drew with Getafe at the weekend – an underwhelming follow-up to their 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on matchday one. Despite now being unbeaten across the opening two games of a league campaign for the third season in a row, they lost the third match in both previous occasions, including a 7-0 defeat to AtlĂ©tico Madrid last season which served as the joint-heaviest loss in the club’s history.[/p]
[p]They also lost to their next opponents Barcelona by the same scoreline at home in April 2012, but there’s enough reason for Iñigo Pérez’s men to be cheerful ahead of this fixture. Rayo have won two of their last three home H2Hs (D1) and avoided defeat in six of their last eight home league games (W3, D3) which should boost belief before the La Liga juggernauts roll into town. [/p]
[p]Barcelona travel on the back of consecutive 2-1 wins to start their La Liga season, extending their winning league streak to six. New manager Hansi Flick is happy with the perfect start to the season, but with tricky-looking games against Girona and Villarreal up next, slipping up here could prove dangerous for the manager’s long-term ambitions. [/p]
[p]There’s a sense of déjà vu in the offing too, as Barcelona have scored exactly twice in their last five away league games, winning the last two by a 2-1 scoreline. The three points are always most important, but keeping a clean sheet has proved difficult, as the Catalans failed to secure a shutout four of those five aforementioned league trips, conceding nine goals in the process. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Olympic gold medal winner Sergio Camello got off the mark this season with a goal on matchday one, but he was the provider here not too long ago, assisting Rayo’s opener in a 2-1 H2H win here in April 2023. His Olympic team mate FermĂn LĂłpez could be ready for an impact himself, having scored his last three league goals on the road. He’s earning a reputation as a bit of a hot-head though, earning a yellow card in three of his last four appearances for club or country.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Rayo scored the first goal in their last four home H2Hs.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar Bhamidi[/i][/p]