PREVIEW | Rayo Vallecano v FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona are closing in on the Liga title. Sunday’s 1-0 defeat of Atlético Madrid had already taken them a huge step nearer to claiming the trophy, while Girona's 4-2 defeat of Real Madrid on Tuesday, with Taty Castellanos scoring all four goals for the Catalan side, has virtually ended every realistic chance of the all-whites closing the gap on the runaway leaders.

With just eight games remaining and an 11 point lead over Real Madrid, it is surely just a matter of time before the championship becomes a mathematical fact.

But until then, Barça still have to keep collecting points, and Wednesday brings a tricky away trip to Rayo Vallecano, one of just three teams that have managed to avoid defeat at Spotify Camp Nou this league season.

If Barça can win that, their lead will be extended to 14 points. Surely, for all intents and purposes, the Liga title would be won.

Rayo form guide

The side from the Vallecas district of Madrid have spent most of 2022-23 somewhere around the middle of the table. A decent run of form before and after the World Cup break saw them rise into the battle for European places, but a streak of eight games without a win has seen them drop out of the hunt. They finally got back to winning ways against Osasuna a week and half ago, but lost away to Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Head to head

After a run of 13 straight wins against Rayo, including five games in which they scored five goals or more, Barça have not only failed to beat them in the last three, but haven’t scored any goals either. Last season Rayo did the double over the Catalans, winning 1-0 home and away, and the game at Spotify Camp Nou on the opening day of the current season ended 0-0.

Team news

With Frenkie de Jong and Pedri both having returned to action against Atlético on Sunday, the remaining injury concerns at Barça are now Ousmane Dembélé, Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto. However, captain Sergio Busquets picked up a fifth yellow card at the weekend and will sit this one out through suspension.

Reserve and youth team players Pablo Torre, Chadi Riad, Arnau Tenas and Lamine Yamal have all been included in the 21-man travelling party.

Rayo are missing Radamel Falcao, who is out for at least the next three weeks. Injuries are never good news, but it does mean not having to deal with a man who has played three times at home to Barça in La Liga and has scored every time.

Did you know?

When Rayo beat Barça 1-0 at Vallecas in October 2021, the game was also played on a Wednesday.

If Barça can avoid conceding, it would set a new club record of 24 clean sheets in a single league season for Ter Stegen.

Barça also need just one more 1-0 victory to match the all-time record for wins by that score in a Liga season.

Xavi says

“It might sound like a cliché, but tomorrow will be hard on a much smaller pitch than normal. They are the most intense team to play against in the league and we won’t be able to create many chances. They’re solid as a rock and as a coach I haven’t beaten them yet.”

“Dembélé and Christensen are both in perfect condition and will be back for Saturday.”

“We’re already qualified for the Champions League with eight games to play. Remember last year? Those are the comparisons that need to be made … But I fully agree with Ancelotti. We aren’t really 11 points better than Real Madrid and we should be praised for getting things right.”

“I like being called the ‘gardener’. It’s funny. Better to be called that than many other things. Let them call me that for as long as they like.”