Matchday 24 of LaLiga closes this Monday with FC Barcelona-Rayo Vallecano at Montjuïc (21:00 h). Iñigo Pérez's team will seek to emulate the feat of Leganés (0-1) and Atlético de Madrid (1-2), the two capital teams that have managed to defeat Hansi Flick's side so far in the 2024/25 season. Indeed, in six matches, Barça's record is 3 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw against Madrid teams, with most of these matches being challenging for the azulgrana team.
Except for the Clásico on matchday 11 against Real Madrid (0-4), Barça has suffered more than expected every time they face teams from the Community of Madrid. Before the first Clásico of the season, the Catalans had narrowly defeated Getafe on matchday 7. The 'azulones' salvaged a draw on matchday 20 (1-1), while Rayo, on the thirth matchday, lost narrowly in Vallecas (1-2).
The goals from Pedri and Dani Olmo allowed Barcelona to come back in the second half of a very tough match from start to finish. The situation was different against Leganés and Atlético, who managed to pull off an upset in Montjuïc on matchdays 17 and 18, just before the end of the year, taking advantage of a dip in form from the azulgrana team in the final stretch of 2024 due to the wear and tear of the calendar.
Barça's results in LaLiga 24/25 against Madrid teams
⚽Rayo Vallecano 1-2 FC Barcelona (matchday 3, in Vallecas)
⚽FC Barcelona 1-0 Getafe (matchday 7, in Montjuïc)
⚽Real Madrid 0-4 FC Barcelona (matchday 11, at the Santiago Bernabéu)
⚽FC Barcelona 0-1 Leganés (matchday 17, in Montjuïc)
⚽FC Barcelona 1-2 Atlético de Madrid (matchday 18, in Montjuïc)
⚽Getafe 1-1 FC Barcelona (matchday 20, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez)
Rayo, an always uncomfortable rival for Barça
In addition to the precedent of the first leg in Vallecas, Rayo arrives at Montjuïc with arguments to once again spoil Barça's home game. Iñigo Pérez's team is on a nine-match unbeaten streak and comes into matchday 24 with three consecutive victories, after defeating Girona (2-1), Leganés (0-1), and Valladolid (1-0). These results have allowed the capital team to rise to sixth place in the standings with 35 points, 6 behind Villarreal (fifth with 41).
Last season, Barça thrashed Rayo in Montjuïc (3-0) on matchday 37, thanks to a double from Pedri and another goal from Robert Lewandowski. However, in the two previous seasons, the Vallecano team managed to draw (0-0) on the opening day of the 2022/23 season, in which the culés lifted the title. In the 21/22 season, Rayo won at Camp Nou thanks to a goal from Álvaro García (0-1), who this season has scored 3 goals in 22 matches, along with a couple of assists.