Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano

FC Barcelona will have all but one of their star acquisitions this summer when they host Rayo Vallecano in the start of the 2022/23 La Liga season during ...

10th min.: Quiet start to this one until Raphinha makes a run into the right side of the Rayo box and goes down on a challenge from the left back. 1st min.: Rayo kick off and they're aggressive from the start with a direct ball, and they're pressing high. 45th min.: Jordi Alba makes a key defensive intervention in the box to clear a cross that was heading to Rayo's Isi Palazon. Five minutes of stoppage time. He doesn't give them a chance to finish out the play and the bench is livid. Barcelona are aggressive, with and without the ball. He tried to make the best of a poor Raphinha cross in the first half, and then he had a chance to be the hero with six minutes remaining, but he could not contort his body quickly enough to take advantage of a rebound allowed by the Rayo 'keeper. That was the best chance of the game. 52nd min.: Another chance for Rayo! Sergio Camello runs onto a ball into space and it's chaos in the Barcelona defense. The Dutch do-it-all player gave Barcelona a lift when he came off the bench to play midfield. To add insult to injury, captain Sergio Busquets was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after a high arm in the face of Rayo's Falcao. Lewandowski was the prize catch of the summer for Barcelona, and he was supposed to help resolve matches like these with opponents interested only in defending and countering. And there are plenty more of these matches left on the calendar.

FC Barcelona will have all but one of their star acquisitions this summer when they host Rayo Vallecano in the start of the 2022/23 La Liga season during ...

10th min.: Quiet start to this one until Raphinha makes a run into the right side of the Rayo box and goes down on a challenge from the left back. 1st min.: Rayo kick off and they're aggressive from the start with a direct ball, and they're pressing high. With the summer signings registered and ready to play, Xavi Hernandez opts for this most productive and balanced lineup during preseason. 45th min.: Jordi Alba makes a key defensive intervention in the box to clear a cross that was heading to Rayo's Isi Palazon. Five minutes of stoppage time. Barcelona are aggressive, with and without the ball. He doesn't give them a chance to finish out the play and the bench is livid. That was the best chance of the game. 52nd min.: Another chance for Rayo! Sergio Camello runs onto a ball into space and it's chaos in the Barcelona defense. To add insult to injury, captain Sergio Busquets was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after a high arm in the face of Rayo's Falcao. The Dutch do-it-all player gave Barcelona a lift when he came off the bench to play midfield. Lewandowski was the prize catch of the summer for Barcelona, and he was supposed to help resolve matches like these with opponents interested only in defending and countering. Barcelona needed more improvisation, creativity, and sharpness from the two.

Barça had a slow start to the game thanks in large part to Rayo, who came to Camp Nou with a solid gameplan and frustrated the Blaugrana attack with intense, ...

This was the first game with a new squad against a very good Rayo side, and there were several positives to take from this one. Lewandowski nearly scored a brilliant winner and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang almost found the net with his first touch off the bench, but Rayo continued to survive in the dying moments. The second half started with a big chance for Rayo missed by Camello, but that was the only dangerous attack from the visitors in the final period.

Barcelona will be hoping to start their 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a win when they host Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on Saturday.

They have been prudent in the transfer market and have bolstered their squad with mostly free agents and loan deals. Rayo Head coach Iraola has no injury concerns to deal with before the game and has the full squad available to him. Rayo Vallecano squad and team news The Liga fixture will be broadcast in the United Kingdom on Premier Sports 1 and La Liga TV. It will be available to stream live through Premier Player. Meanwhile, Rayo achieved their best league finish in half a decade as they ended their 2021-22 campaign in 13th spot after getting promoted to the top flight last season. Barcelona will be hoping to start their 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a win when they host Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on Saturday. The Catalans finished second in the league last season, 13 points adrift of champions Real Madrid, and will be aiming to bring back the Liga trophy to Catalunya following several key signings in the summer.

Barcelona were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano as a summer of uncertainty off the pitch spilled over into their LaLiga opener at Camp Nou on Saturday. Barca's frustration was then amplified in stoppage time when Sergio Busquets ...

Another of the new signings, Raphinha, then had Barcelona's clearest chance of the first half to break the deadlock. It's a shame because we wanted to show the fans that we're on a good path. "We will have to analyse the game, improve and keep believing in the model of play.

Despite a scramble to register its new star acquisitions the day before the La Liga season opener, they couldn't help FC Barcelona find the back of the net ...

10th min.: Quiet start to this one until Raphinha makes a run into the right side of the Rayo box and goes down on a challenge from the left back. 1st min.: Rayo kick off and they're aggressive from the start with a direct ball, and they're pressing high. 45th min.: Jordi Alba makes a key defensive intervention in the box to clear a cross that was heading to Rayo's Isi Palazon. Five minutes of stoppage time. He doesn't give them a chance to finish out the play and the bench is livid. Barcelona are aggressive, with and without the ball. He tried to make the best of a poor Raphinha cross in the first half, and then he had a chance to be the hero with six minutes remaining, but he could not contort his body quickly enough to take advantage of a rebound allowed by the Rayo 'keeper. That was the best chance of the game. 52nd min.: Another chance for Rayo! Sergio Camello runs onto a ball into space and it's chaos in the Barcelona defense. The Dutch do-it-all player gave Barcelona a lift when he came off the bench to play midfield. To add insult to injury, captain Sergio Busquets was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after a high arm in the face of Rayo's Falcao. Lewandowski was the prize catch of the summer for Barcelona, and he was supposed to help resolve matches like these with opponents interested only in defending and countering. And there are plenty more of these matches left on the calendar.

The Barcelona XI is in: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Eric, Christensen, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Gavi, Pedri; Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha Lineups are announced.

Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Barcelona's best chance in the opening 20 minutes as both wingers link up. Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Sergio Camello (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.