Hansi Flick revolutionizes the XI! Official lineups for Rayo-Barça
Published New:31/08/2025 - 20:36h
Updated New:31/08/2025 - 20:42h
Hansi Flick makes 3 changes compared to his XI against Levante. This is the Barça lineup against Rayo!
Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona face each other on matchday 3 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at Vallecas, in a key duel in the fight for the leadership. Hansi Flick's team arrives with most of the starters available, with Andreas Christensen and Dani Olmo as the main novelties in the German's XI.
The Dane completes an unprecedented defense alongside Eric García, Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde, being the first start for '15' and '23' in 25/26. The same happens with Olmo, who returns as an attacking midfielder to accompany Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
We review the starting lineup, the substitutes' bench and the injured and suspended players of Barcelona under Hansi Flick for the match against Rayo. Complete analysis!
Barça's starting XI vs Rayo Vallecano
- (#13, GK) Joan García
- (#23) Jules Koundé
- (#24) Eric García
- (#15) Andreas Christensen
- (#03) Alejandro Balde
- (#21) Frenkie de Jong
- (#08) Pedri González
- (#20) Dani Olmo
- (#10) Lamine Yamal
- (#11) Raphinha
- (#07) Ferran Torres
Barça's bench (substitute players)
- (#25, GK) Szczesny
- (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
- (#04) Ronald Araujo
- (#05) Pau Cubarsí
- (#09) Robert Lewandowski
- (#14) Marcus Rashford
- (#16) Fermín López
- (#17) Marc Casadó
- (#18) Gerard Martín
- (#26) Jofre Torrents
- (#27) Pedro 'Dro' Fernández
- (#29) Toni Fernández
Players out for Barça
- (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
- (#06) Gavi
- (#28) Marc Bernal
Players pending registration
- (#19) Roony Bardghji
What will be the surprises and tactical variations of Flick's Barça against Rayo?
Hansi Flick revolutionizes his defense, with the entry of Christensen and Koundé. Cubarsí and Araujo will go to the bench. For their part, De Jong and Olmo return to midfield to accompany the offensive trident formed by Lamine, Raphinha and Ferran. The most important changes occur in the back.
Goalkeeper and defense
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Joan García will be in goal, while Eric García and Andreas Christensen will be the center backs. Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde appear on the wings. Gerard Martín and Wojciech Szczesny are already registered and are waiting on the bench alongside Pau Cubarsí, Ronald Araujo and Jofre Torrents.
Midfield:
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As a pivot, Frenkie de Jong is Pedri's partner in midfield, while Dani Olmo returns as an attacking midfielder. Fermín López and Marc Casadó, again, await their opportunity on the bench. Gavi is out due to injury, while Marc Bernal continues to be sidelined.
Forwards:
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In attack, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres complete the Barça attack alongside Raphinha. The 'Shark' has scored for two consecutive matches and they are confident of maintaining their streak in Vallecas. Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski will have minutes in the second half. Roony Bardghji has not yet been registered.
Barça's absentees: Who is missing the match against Rayo?
A total of three Barça players are confirmed to be out due to physical problems. Gavi was the last to arrive at the Barça infirmary, as a result of 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 either.
The second absence, the most prolonged, is that of 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 German's long-term absence, 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 La Liga. Flick assured in the preview of Rayo-Barça that the 18-year-old player could reappear against Valencia, after the break.
Rayo's lineup: Iñigo Pérez's team brings out its gala XI
- 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, for its part, 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 a Vallecas still far from being in optimal conditions. Especially in regards to the pitch.
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 appears as an 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. Can the Madrid team surprise Barça?
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