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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona15111343162734
2Real Madrid14103130111933
3Atletico MadridAtletico159512681832
4Athletic Bilbao157532214826
5Villarreal147522723426
6Mallorca157351513224
7Osasuna156542023-323
8GironaGirona156452220222
9Real Sociedad156361311221
10Real BetisBetis155551618-220
11Sevilla155461419-519
12Celta Vigo155372327-418
13Rayo Vallecano144461416-216
14Las PalmasLas Palmas154382026-615
15Leganes153661420-615
16AlavesAlaves154291625-914
17Getafe152761013-313
18Espanyol144191527-1213
19Valencia132471321-810
20Real ValladolidValladolid1523101032-229


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