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Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 1
Aug 13, 2022 at 8pm UK
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Rayo Vallecano logo

Barcelona
0 - 0
Rayo Vallecano


Dembele (14'), Busquets (74')
Busquets (90+3')
FT

Trejo (45'), Catena (45+5'), Lejeune (54'), Falcao (69'), Ciss (86'), Dimitrievski (89')

Team News: Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha start for Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano

Team News: Lewandowski, Christensen, Raphinha start for Barcelona against Rayo
© Reuters
New signings Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha start for Barcelona in Saturday's 2022-23 La Liga opener with Rayo Vallecano.

Barcelona boss Xavi has named new signings Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha in his starting side for Saturday's 2022-23 La Liga opener with Rayo Vallecano.

The Catalan outfit managed to register four of their summer signings on Friday, in addition to the contract renewals of Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele.

However, Jules Kounde is still waiting to be registered by the Catalan outfit, meaning that the central defender will not be involved on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

Ronald Araujo is set to line up at right-back against Rayo, while Christensen will be joined in the middle of the defence by Eric Garcia, with Jordi Alba lining up on the left of the back four.

There is no Frenkie de Jong in the starting XI amid the speculation surrounding his future, meanwhile, with Gavi and Pedri selected alongside Sergio Busquets.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in action in July 2022© Reuters

Dembele left Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of June before re-signing shortly after, and the France international will line up on the right of a front three.

Lewandowski - signed from Bayern Munich over the summer - is starting at centre-forward, with fellow new addition Raphinha set to play off the left for the Catalan outfit.

Ferran Torres has been struggling with a foot problem during pre-season, but the January arrival from Manchester City has been named on the bench.

Gerard Pique, Ansu Fati and new signing Kessie are also among the substitutes, with Xavi having a strong squad to choose from following a busy summer transfer window.

There are also spots on the bench for Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with both players currently being linked with moves away from the club.

Raphinha is unveiled as a Barcelona player on July 15, 2022© Reuters

Sergino Dest was left out of the squad entirely, with the United States international currently being linked with both Manchester United and Chelsea.

Miralem Pjanic is also on the bench, with the 32-year-old back at Camp Nou following a loan spell at Besiktas, and he will be part of Xavi's plans for the new season.

"We have options to replace Busquets. There is Pjanic, who has convinced me and will stay," said the club's manager when questioned on his midfield options.

Alongside Dest, Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite are also not in the squad, with the duo widely expected to leave the Catalan giants before the end of the transfer window.

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, E Garcia, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha

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Matt Law
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Barcelona attacker Raphinha celebrates scoring against Real Madrid on July 23, 2022
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid19134243192443
2Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia1826101728-1112
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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