Barcelona will welcome Rayo Vallecano to Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on Monday night knowing that a victory would see them rise above Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to the top of the La Liga table.
Dropped points for Real Madrid and Atletico on Saturday has opened the door for Barcelona to potentially move to the summit, but they will be welcoming an in-form Rayo outfit that currently occupy sixth position.
Match preview
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Real Madrid and Atletico were held to 1-1 draws by Osasuna and Celta Vigo respectively on Saturday, with the former at the summit on 51 points, one point clear of Diego Simeone's side in second position.
Barcelona are three points off the lead, but due to their superior head-to-head record over Real Madrid, a victory over Rayo would see Hansi Flick's side move to the top of the division with 14 games left to play.
The Catalan giants will enter this match off the back of three straight wins in all competitions, including a 4-1 success over Sevilla last weekend, while they are unbeaten since a 2-1 reverse to Atletico in their final match ahead of the winter break.
Barcelona have been full of goals in recent weeks, including nine in their last two matches, and they will have been greatly encouraged by what happened to their title rivals on Saturday, as they prepare for successive league fixtures with Rayo and Las Palmas ahead of the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico.
Flick's side are fighting on three fronts this season, also being present in the knockout round of the Champions League, so it could be a hugely successful campaign for Blaugrana.
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Rayo, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of three straight league wins over Girona, Leganes and Real Valladolid, and Inigo Perez's side are certainly European contenders at this stage of the campaign.
Indeed, an excellent season to date has seen them win nine, draw eight and lose six of their 23 matches to collect 35 points, which has left them in sixth, three points ahead of seventh-placed Osasuna and five from Villarreal in fifth.
Los Franjirrojos were 17th in La Liga last season, while they have never finished higher than eighth at this level, so it could be a historic campaign for the club, who have the fifth-best away record in La Liga this term, claiming 17 points from their 12 games on the road.
Perez's side can also take heart from the fact that Barcelona have been beaten on three occasions at their temporary home stadium in the league this season, but the capital team have lost their last two league games against Monday's opponents, including a 2-1 defeat in the reverse game towards the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Rayo have a recent away win over Barcelona to their name, though, triumphing 1-0 at Camp Nou in April 2022, and they actually went unbeaten in the league across five games with the Catalan side between October 2021 and November 2023, winning three times in the process.
Team News
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Barcelona will be without the service of Fermin Lopez, with the midfielder sent off after featuring off the bench against Sevilla last time out, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain long-term absentees with serious knee injuries.
Ronald Araujo is making progress in his recovery from an ankle issue, and the Uruguay international could be in the squad, but he is likely to be protected, so a spot on the bench could be the outcome.
Andreas Christiansen, meanwhile, is still unavailable for selection due to a muscular problem.
Flick could make two changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla last time out, with Pau Cubarsi and Marc Casado potentially being introduced for Araujo and Frenkie de Jong.
As for Rayo, Joni Montiel remains on the sidelines with a muscular issue, while Sergio Camello and Unai Lopez are set to be absent with the injuries that forced them off in the early stages of the clash with Real Valladolid last time out.
Randy Nteka is available again following a suspension, though, and the 27-year-old, who has scored twice in his last two La Liga appearances, is expected to be introduced to lead the line.
Alvaro Garcia and Jorge de Frutos are set to continue in the wide positions for the capital team, while Lopez's absence in the middle of the midfield is set to open the door for Pedro Diaz to feature from the first whistle.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Diaz, Ciss; De Frutos, Palazon, A Garcia; Nteka
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo are a brilliant outfit and are capable of making this a very uncomfortable match for Barcelona; the hosts are absolutely flying at the moment, though, and we are finding it difficult to predict anything other than a victory for Flick's side, who could be the new division leaders on Monday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
