The top seed is making eyes at FC Barcelona. After the draw in the Madrid derby last week, Atlético and Madrid have failed again. Both have drawn 1-1, the Colchoneros against Celta and the Blancos against Osasuna. Thus, the team managed by Hansi Flick is only three points behind its bitter rival, who leads the table. With a victory this Monday, it would go first in the standings, since the direct confrontation favors it. However, to do so it will have to overcome Rayo Vallecano in Montjuic, a rival that it has only beaten in one of the three recent receptions.

The team managed by Iñigo Pérez occupies sixth place in LaLiga, Conference League zone, with 35 points. It has 6 less than Villarreal and 1 more than Mallorca, so it needs to win to strengthen its position and continue dreaming of European competitions. A month ago, they were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by Real Sociedad. However, this is the first defeat they have suffered since December 1, against Athletic Club (1-2). The franjirrojos have not lost in the domestic competition since that date, which is 9 consecutive matches without defeat.

The record of Barça-Rayo in the 21st century

Rayo Vallecano is a very uncomfortable rival. Their home ground has been a difficult place for the Blaugrana team for years, but their visits are not pleasant either. They are a very intense team, with an interesting counterattack and capable of pulling back their lines when necessary. Their players are very generous in their efforts, which makes them a solid and competitive squad. In the last three times they have come to Barcelona to face FC Barcelona, ​​they have won once, drawn once and lost the other:

SEASON MATCH MATCHDAY
2023/2024 Barça 3-0 Rayo 37
2022/2023 Barça 0-0 Rayo 1
2021/2022 Barça 0-1 Rayo 21

 

Since their return to the top flight of Spanish football in 2021 under the leadership of Andoni Iraola, the franjirrojo team has been endowed with a lot of personality. This has been maintained during the Basque coach's stay until 2023 and Iñigo Pérez continued with the spirit in 2024, after Francisco Rodríguez spent 6 months on the Rayista bench. However, not so long ago, Barça beat the Vallecas entity with severe thrashings. During this century, they have faced each other on 12 occasions at the Blaugrana home ground. The other seasons, the visitors did not compete in the First Division.

Of the dozen clashes between the aforementioned protagonists, the Blaugranas won on 9 occasions, while their rivals did so on one. The other two duels ended in a draw, one 0-0 and the other 1-1. Of the times that FC Barcelona has beaten Rayo, none has been by less than three goals. The simplest victory in this century was 3-1. This fact shows that the Catalan team has no middle ground with the Madrid team, since it either crushes it or stumbles against it.

Barça-Rayo clashes in LaLiga during the 21st century. The seasons that do not appear are because they did not face each other in the domestic competition.
SEASON MATCH MATCHDAY
2023/2024 Barça 3-0 Rayo 37
2022/2023 Barça 0-0 Rayo 1
2021/2022 Barça 0-1 Rayo 21
2018/2019 Barça 3-1 Rayo 27
2015/2016 Barça 5-2 Rayo 8
2014/2015 Barça 6-1 Rayo 26
2013/2014 Barça 6-0 Rayo 24
2012/2013 Barça 3-1 Rayo 28
2011/2012 Barça 4-0 Rayo 17
2002/2003 Barça 3-0 Rayo 32
2001/2002 Barça 1-1 Rayo 2
2000/2001 Barça 5-1 Rayo 34


So, in the current campaign, FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano are in charge of closing the twenty-fourth round of the Spanish First Division at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys at 9:00 p.m. The Blaugranas have a golden opportunity to regain the throne they lost in the last league match of 2024, against Atlético de Madrid, and return to first in the standings. However, they must be able to knock out the red-and-white team, a tough nut to crack.