Barcelona will take on Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas this weekend hoping to build on their emphatic 5-1 victory over Real Madrid from the previous gameweek. The Blaugrana are currently leading the La Liga standings by one point, and so it would be a must-win game for Ernesto Valverde’s men on Saturday.
It is expected that the Barca boss will opt for a 4-3-3 formation and might name the same starting XI that featured against Los Blancos last weekend.
4-3-3 Barcelona Predicted Lineup To Face Rayo Vallecano
Defence
Marc Andre ter Stegen will resume his shot-stopping duties for Barca while Jasper Cillessen has to be content with a spot on Valverde’s bench. Samuel Umtiti is still out with an injury meaning Clement Lenglet would resume his centre-back role alongside Gerard Pique at the middle of the Catalans defence. Sergi Roberto might get the nod to line up in the right-back position after being rested in midweek. Jordi Alba would play as the left-back as he looks to run at the Vallecano defenders at every chance that he can get.
Valverde’s men will be the clear favourites to claim a win on Saturday night, and as long as they can keep things stable at the back, Barca shouldn’t have any problems getting the three points.
Midfield
The talented midfield trio of Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic will continue to feature as part of Valverde’s midfield following another mesmerising display by them against Real Madrid last weekend.
Rakitic enjoyed a rich vein of form last month, and so he will be hoping to carry it forward to November as Barca looks to consolidate their position at the top of the La Liga table.
Attack
This match will come too early for the injured Lionel Messi which means that Rafinha will get another start under Valverde. Both Luis Suarez and Phillipe Coutinho have been amongst the goal-scorers in recent weeks, and we can expect either or both of them to register a goal on Saturday night.
The Uruguayan forward is coming into this game at the back of scoring a hattrick against the Galacticos, and thus he would be a menace for the Rayo Vallecano defenders.
