Rayo Vallecano vs FC Barcelona: probable lineups, absentees and news

Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona face each other this Sunday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 in Vallecas (21:30 CEST) for the third matchday of the championship. Hansi Flick's team arrives with most of the starters available, although with Gavi as a last-minute absentee and two pending registrations.

While waiting for the club to return to rule 1:1, Wojciech Szczesny and Roony Bardghji still do not have a federative license, while Gerard Martín and Wojciech Szczesny already have a license to play. Héctor Fort, meanwhile, remains on the sidelines while resolving his departure from the team in the final stretch of the summer market.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes' bench and the injured and suspended players of Barcelona under Hansi Flick for the match against Rayo. Complete analysis!

Probable Barça starting XI:

1. (#13, GK) Joan García
2. (#23) Jules Koundé
3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
6. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#16) Fermín López
9. (#10) Lamine Yamal
10. (#11) Raphinha
11. (#07) Ferran Torres

Barça bench (substitute players):

1. (#25, GK) Szczesny
2. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
3. (#09) Robert Lewandowski
4. (#14) Marcus Rashford
5. (#15) Andreas Christensen
6. (#17) Marc Casadó
7. (#18) Gerard Martín
8. (#20) Dani Olmo
9. (#24) Eric García
10. (#26) Jofre Torrents
11. (#27) Pedro 'Dro' Fernández
12. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured Barça players:

1. (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
2. (#06) Gavi
3. (#28) Marc Bernal

Players pending registration:

1. (#19) Roony Bardghji

What will be the surprises and tactical variations of Flick's Barça against Rayo?

In principle, Flick plans to make several adjustments to his XI from matchday 2 against Levante (2-3), again with Frenkie de Jong accompanying Pedri González and Fermín López back as an attacking midfielder. In addition, Jules Koundé could reappear as a right-back.

Goalkeeper and defense

• Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs. In the center of the defense, Pau Cubarsí should partner Ronald Araujo, with Andreas Christensen waiting for his opportunity on the bench alongside Eric García, the latter a starter in the first two matchdays. Gerard Martín will be available for the first time in 25/26.

Midfield:

• As a pivot, Frenkie de Jong is expected to partner Pedri in midfield, while Fermín López would return as the team's attacking midfielder amid rumors about his possible departure. Flick, as he did with Casadó last matchday, would put him in the XI to send a message: the player from Huelva is staying. Dani Olmo would return to the bench alongside Marc Casadó, although the player from Terrassa was key in the team's reaction in the second half against Levante.

Attack:

• In attack, Raphinha and Ferran Torres complete the Barça attack alongside Lamine Yamal. The 'Shark' has scored in two consecutive matchdays and, being in better physical condition than Lewandowski, should remain in the lineup. Rashford started in Valencia, but did not take advantage of his opportunity as a left winger.

Barça absentees: Who is missing the match against Rayo due to injury?

Gavi, in a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva

For now, three Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. Gavi was the last to arrive at the Barça infirmary, due to an injury to his right knee suffered in Friday's training session. Although it does not seem to be anything serious, the club prefers to give him rest and the midfielder will not travel with Spain to the FIFA date.

The second absentee, the most prolonged, is Ter Stegen. The goalkeeper underwent surgery on July 29 in Bordeaux and will be out for between four and five months, according to the deadlines set by the club. LaLiga confirmed the long-term absence of the German, after reviewing the Barça medical report and, meanwhile, the German is working at the Ciutat Esportiva to recover.

The other who remains on the sidelines is Marc Bernal. The midfielder already has medical clearance, but the coaching staff prefers to give him a couple more weeks of physical work before calling him up again.

The player from Berga traveled with the team to the Asian tour, but did not play any match. He also did not see action in the Gamper or in the first two matchdays of LaLiga. Flick assured in the preview of Rayo-Barça that the 18-year-old could reappear against Valencia, after the break.

Rayo's possible lineup: Will the Madrid team repeat?

• Initial XI: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Luiz Felipe, Pep Chavarría; Ciss, Unai López; Palazón, Díaz, García; De Frutos.
• Bench: Cárdenas (GK), Gil (GK), Trejo, Camello, Nteka, Gumbau, Martínez, , Balliu, Espino, Valentín, Fernández, Vertrouwd.
• Injured: Abdul Mumin

Rayo, meanwhile, arrives with its entire team available for the first match of the season at home. Iñigo Pérez's team debuted winning in Girona (1-3) and fell last matchday against Athletic (1-0) before returning to Vallecas.

The Madrid fiefdom is not yet in optimal conditions, with a pitch at 6 points out of 10, but LaLiga will approve the dispute of the match in Vallecas due to lack of time and options to move it. In principle, the Rayo team should repeat its lineup from the two previous matches.

Unless there is a surprise, the 'blanquirrojos' will take the field with Batalla in goal, Ratiu and Chavarría as full-backs and the duo Luiz Felipe-Lejeune in the center of the defense. Pathé Ciss and Unai López will be the defensive midfielders, with Izi Palazón and Álvaro García attacking on the flanks.

Pedro Díaz would be the attacking midfielder, playing behind the team's center forward, Jorge De Frutos. Players like Sergio Camello, Óscar Trejo and 'Pacha' Espino also have options to add minutes, thanks to their experience in Primera. Will the Madrid team be able to surprise Barça? The culés have not lost as visitors in LaLiga since November 2024 (1-0 against Real Sociedad).

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