[LaLiga] Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona - The capital outfit have certainly shown in recent years that they can cause Barcelona issues.
Since February 2024, Rayo Vallecano has been under the leadership of Iñigo Pérez, who was initially seen as a temporary solution until the end of the season. However, the results achieved by the 36-year-old Spaniard satisfied the club's management, and his contract was extended for another year. Despite his young age, Pérez has confidently handled the task and managed to keep Rayo in La Liga.
The decision to extend his contract may also be tied to the club's limited financial resources. The team started the new season in excellent physical shape, which allowed them to secure points with a powerful style of play in an away match against a strong Real Sociedad. However, this strategy may not be sustainable in the long run. In their last outing, Rayo played away against Getafe in a match that lacked shots on target (0-1) and ended in a 0-0 draw.On July 1st, German coach Hansi Flick took over as Barcelona's head coach, known for his success with Bayern Munich and the German national team. During preseason, the Catalans played five friendly matches, securing victories against Olot, Manchester City, and Real Madrid but losing to AC Milan and AS Monaco.
In the opening round of the 2024/25 La Liga season, Barcelona secured a narrow but convincing 2-1 win over Valencia at the "Mestalla," thanks to a brace from Robert Lewandowski. Over the weekend, the "Blaugrana" hosted Athletic Bilbao and claimed three points with a 2-1 victory.
Prediction: Barcelona -0.75
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona stream and TV listing
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