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Not many groups may put the brakes on Hansi Flick’s Barcelona within the opening weeks of La Liga because the crew started clicking very early on. One opponent who made them work exhausting for the three factors, nevertheless, was Rayo Vallecano.
When the 2 groups met earlier this season at Estadio Vallecas, Unai Lopez handed the hosts an early lead that they preserved by the primary half.
A Pedri objective introduced Barcelona degree on the hour mark and solely a late objective from Dani Olmo on his debut sealed the deal for the Blaugrana.
Tomorrow, the identical opponents take to the sector towards Barcelona at Montjuic with three wins of their final three video games. They’re flying excessive in La Liga and are in sixth place after 23 video games with 35 factors.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano.
Rested and raring to go
The 2024-25 calendar for Barcelona has been ruthless, giving gamers little to no time between video games.
Proper from the start of the marketing campaign, the Blaugrana have been enjoying shut to 2 video games each week and it’s clear that the schedule was gruelling for gamers.
Whereas Hansi Flick’s males started the season flying, it quickly grew to become clear that it was the hectic schedule and the dearth of relaxation that brought about their eventual collapse in the direction of the top of the 12 months and it’s no shock they returned higher after the Christmas break.
Barcelona performed their earlier recreation towards Sevilla final weekend and got here up with a 4-1 win away from dwelling enjoying over half an hour with a person much less.
Now, they return to the sector over seven days later in what could also be their longest interval between two video games all season.
To get every week off amid the continuing hectic calendar is nothing in need of a boon and one can thus anticipate Barcelona to come back out all weapons blazing tomorrow with contemporary legs and a rejuvenated thoughts.
The optimistic dilemma
Gavi or Olmo because the No. 10? (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
Hansi Flick has had a number of choice dilemmas to cope with in current weeks, particularly with the likes of Inigo Martinez and Dani Olmo struggling delicate accidents.
The previous is again match and should properly return to the beginning lineup tomorrow towards Rayo Vallecano alongside Pau Cubarsi.But, the attacking midfield dilemma stays a puzzle to unravel for the supervisor, albeit a superb downside to have.
For the reason that begin of 2025, Gavi has had the higher hand over Olmo within the No. 10 position however the teenager was removed from his greatest towards Sevilla and was hooked off for Fermin Lopez after the break.
Lopez made an instantaneous affect and confirmed why he’s a powerful contender to start out, however was quickly despatched off and is thus unavailable tomorrow as he serves his suspension.
Olmo, in the meantime, got here on within the seventieth minute of Barcelona’s final recreation and made a stable affect off the bench and even had an element to play in Eric Garcia’s fourth objective.
Tomorrow evening, it thus stays to be seen if Flick prefers deploying Olmo or Gavi. On condition that Rayo Vallecano are usually not a facet to take a seat deep and defend, he could want Gavi for his defensive contributions over Olmo who is significant for closed defences.
An opportunity to return to the highest
The La Liga title race this season has been some of the thrilling races to comply with in Europe with Barcelona, Actual Madrid, and Atletico Madrid all combating neck-to-neck.
The Catalans started the season robust and the undisputed favorites, however their year-end droop coincided with Actual Madrid who went on a profitable spree and solidified themselves because the leaders on the desk.
Whereas Los Blancos went as excessive as ten factors forward of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid additionally rose quickly and adopted Actual Madrid carefully, and it appeared Hansi Flick’s males had misplaced the plot.
The previous month, nevertheless, has seen the Catalans slowly shut the hole on their rivals and tomorrow evening they’ve an opportunity to retake the lead on the desk.
Matchday 24 of La Liga, in any case, has been extremely thrilling and controversial with Actual Madrid drawing towards Osasuna after having Jude Bellingham despatched off and Atletico Madrid drawing towards Celta Vigo after having Pablo Barrios despatched off.
Actual Madrid at the moment sit on 51 factors with Los Rojiblancos at 50 and Barcelona at 48. A win tomorrow will thus Barcelona away from Actual Madrid on objective distinction and into the highest spot, marking the most recent twist within the title race.
