Rayo return to test Barcelona. The table does not tell the whole story

Barcelona have started the season with two wins and a 7–0 goal difference. Rayo Vallecano have one point and sit in the lower part of the table. On paper, everything looks clear. The problem is that this particular opponent rarely pays much attention to paper.

MATCHDAY THREE, THE SAME EXAMINER

Barcelona will face Rayo on Matchday 3 of La Liga for the third consecutive season. In the previous two campaigns, Hansi Flick’s side travelled to Vallecas. They won 2–1 the first time before returning with a 1–1 draw a year later.

This time Rayo are coming to Spotify Camp Nou, but their role remains much the same. They are expected to provide Barcelona’s first serious test after an excellent start to the season. The fixture list has changed the venue, but apparently saw no reason to replace the examiner.

Barça have already beaten Elche 5–0 and Athletic Club 2–0. Monday’s fixture will be their third match in eight days. Rayo have made a much slower start, collecting one point while scoring twice and conceding three times.

THE TABLE SAYS 7–0. RAYO ANSWER WITH HISTORY

Current form strongly favours Barcelona, but the recent record demands caution. The teams have met ten times since the beginning of the 2021/22 season. Barça have won only four of those matches. Three ended in draws and Rayo won the other three.

During that period, the Madrid club managed a 1–0 victory at Camp Nou, twice kept Barcelona from scoring and repeatedly turned what looked like a routine evening into 90 minutes of searching for space against a wall.

The most recent meeting was not comfortable either. Barcelona won 1–0 at home in March through Ronald Araújo’s goal, but Rayo created several dangerous chances and forced Joan García into important saves. The three points stayed in Catalonia. The sense of calm did not necessarily join them.

FLICK HAS THE NUMBERS. RAYO HAVE AWKWARD QUESTIONS

Hansi Flick has named a 22-man squad for the match. Barcelona have every reason to trust their attack: Raphinha and Fermín López have scored three goals each, while Anthony Gordon has already provided two assists. Before the game, however, Flick stressed the importance of the team rather than focusing on individual names.

That is a sensible approach against opponents who are at their most dangerous when the favourites start believing the line-up will solve every problem for them. Rayo do not need long spells of possession or control. They only need to close the spaces, win a few duels and force Barcelona to repeat the same attacks.

Barça remain clear favourites and should finish the third round with nine points. Rayo, however, are one of those opponents against whom the word “should” has required an unusual amount of repetition in recent years.

Kick-off is at 21:30 CEST. After that, the table will stop mattering for a while.