Barcelona take on the visitors Rayo Vallecano in the round 24 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Monday, February 17th at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona).
Barcelona leaves a rather mixed impression. "More than a club" reclaimed the Supercopa and La Liga titles under Xavi in 2023. However, the following season was disappointing, with no trophies and a frustrating Champions League exit at the hands of PSG. Hansi Flick, who took charge in the summer, has already secured a Supercopa victory with convincing wins over long-time rivals Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. The Champions League group stage was handled comfortably, and the team cruised through the early rounds of the Copa del Rey. However, in La Liga, an initially strong start was followed by a dreadful run of form. Only in February did they manage to regain control and string together better results. Their latest victim was Sevilla, who were demolished 4-1 in the last round. The team’s offensive play has significantly improved, with Lewandowski and Yamal forming a lethal duo in the final third.
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Rayo Vallecano have always been a fascinating and unique side. However, last season saw them slump to 17th place, though they still maintained a comfortable gap from the relegation zone. Under Íñigo Pérez, they have made notable progress this season. Since losing 1-2 to Athletic Club on the first day of winter, their only defeat has come in the cup against Real Sociedad. They have picked up points consistently, including an entertaining 3-3 draw with Real Madrid. Wins have also been frequent, closing January with a 2-1 victory over Girona and a narrow 1-0 win over Leganés. In February, they kicked off with another hard-fought 1-0 win over bottom-placed Valladolid, with Óscar Trejo netting the winner in the second half. They have proven to be a tough opponent for even the top sides, with their aggressive pressing and quick transitions posing a constant threat.
The capital-based Bees managed to avoid defeat in five consecutive meetings. However, in 2024, Barcelona claimed victories both home and away. This is a game where everyone expects a Barcelona win, and likely by a comfortable margin. However, given Rayo's solid form and the defensive inconsistencies of Flick’s side, a bet on both teams to score seems like a smart play.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score – yes.
