Rayo Vallecano vs FC Barcelona: going for the third victory and the LaLiga leadership

FC Barcelona returns this Sunday to Vallecas to face Iñigo Pérez's Rayo Vallecano. Hansi Flick's team recovers most of its players for the match on matchday 3 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26, with their homework done regarding registrations and only one new injury.

It is Gavi, who suffered a problem in his right knee and has been left out of the match and Spain's squad for the matches against Bulgaria and Turkey. However, the 'culés' have two additions to their squad, thanks to the registrations of Gerard Martín and Wojciech Szczesny.

Facing them will be a Rayo that, although they fell in the last match against Athletic (1-0), arrives with an important injection of confidence after securing their participation in the Conference League after beating Neman Grodno of Belarus by an aggregate of 5-0.

• 📺 Where and when to watch the match: the channels that broadcast the Rayo-Barça SEE

Barça closes its squad for the 25/26 season: Who will be Flick's starters against Rayo?

Barça's lineup against Levante on matchday 3 of LaLiga 25/26

With the registrations of Szczesny and Martín, both will be available on the bench for any eventuality in Vallecas. Only Roony Bardghji's license remains to be resolved, who hopes to receive his registration in LaLiga during the morning or afternoon of Sunday.

In this way, Barça will have its squad closed, waiting for the closing of the summer market. The last hours were complex due to the rumors about the possible departure of Fermín López to the Premier League. However, Flick himself was confident in the continuity of the player from Huelva in the press conference prior to the match in Vallecas.

In that sense, it is likely that the coach will put the '16' in his lineup to nip the rumors about his future in the bud, just as he did with Marc Casadó last week in Levante. While the Catalan press speculated about the midfielder's departure due to lack of prominence, Frenkie de Jong's absence due to permission returned him to the XI.

Thus, Barça could face Rayo with Joan García in goal and a defensive line made up of Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde. In the center of the field, the return of the Pedri-De Jong duo is expected, with Fermín as attacking midfielder. In attack, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha should accompany Ferran Torres, who has 2 goals in LaLiga.

In addition to Gavi, Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal will also not be available, the latter also as a precaution. Unless there is a surprise, the expected return of the player from Berga will take place after the international break against Valencia. The '6' should also be ready to return that Sunday, September 14, in Barça's first home game of the season.

• 📋 Squad list: Barcelona's squad list for the match: SEE

Rayo will seek to cut Barcelona's away streak

Before, the 'culés' must overcome the obstacle that Rayo represents. An always difficult rival, especially when playing at home. Imigo Pérez's team take advantage of the reduced dimensions of their field to reduce spaces between the lines and do damage on the counter with quick exits.

Barça comes from suffering a lot in defense against Levante (2-3), a rival with a similar scheme that managed to go to halftime winning 2-0. Taking into account this background, along with that of the previous year (the Catalans also went down on the scoreboard at halftime in Vallecas), Flick's team must take more precautions at the back.

The Madrid team debuted with a victory in the League against the dejected Girona (1-3), a match that the 'blanquirrojo' team settled in just 45 minutes taking advantage of the defensive errors of the locals. Rayo asked to play their first two matches away from home, while they were completing some renovations in Vallecas.

However, the stadium is still not in optimal conditions for First Division matches. Mainly its grass, which on Thursday against Neman Grodno looked quite worrying. For the match against Barcelona, Rayo arrives with only three days of rest, but with its entire squad available to line up its gala XI.

• ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XIs of FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano: SEE

Vallecas, a difficult stadium for Barça in the recent past

For FC Barcelona, visiting Vallecas has become a headache in recent years. Since Rayo's return to LaLiga in 21/22, the 'culés' have only managed to stay with the victory last season (1-2) in four visits.

A match resolved thanks to the brilliant debut of Dani Olmo, who scored and assisted to close the comeback, at that time the second of Flick's team in the season. Previously, Barça had rescued a draw (1-1) and a pair of defeats in the Madrid fiefdom.

In fact, Barça had only managed to add the three points in Vallecas once (2-3 in 18/19) in the last eight years before the arrival of the current coaching staff.

Between 2011 and 2016, the 'culés' had dominated with authority in Rayo's field, adding five consecutive victories, four of them by a landslide (the largest, 0-7 in 11/12). Will Hansi Flick's team be able to regain that dominance?

For the moment, the Catalans have accumulated 13 matchdays unbeaten away from home, with 10 wins and 3 draws since the defeat against Real Sociedad (1-0) in November 2024.

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