26 October 2021, 14:06 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Spanish LaLiga fixture between Rayo Vallecano and F.C. Barcelona kicks off at 18:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, October 27, at the Estadio de Vallecas.
Preview Rayo Vallecano La Liga, Oct 27, 2021
Preview Rayo Vallecano returns for this midweek game after picking up a 3-2 defeat to Real Betis over the weekend. Alex Moreno (22') had Betis in the lead before Juanmi (24') followed up with the second, two minutes later. Randy Nteka (45'+1) pulled one back for Vallecano at the stroke of half-time before Álvaro García (65’) restored parity twenty minutes after the break. Willian Jose (74' P.) eventually grabbed the winner for Betis from the penalty spot, leaving Rayo with their second defeat in five games: WWLWL. Despite slipping one spot from 6th to 7th place, Andoni Iraola will look to compound Barcelona’s misery on the pitch on Wednesday. Rayo has 16 points after 5W, 1D, & 4L. The club remains the second-highest scoring side in LaLiga with 17 goals, second only to Real Madrid with 24. The impeccable record could be the decisive factor when Barcelona comes for a visit at the Estadio de Vallecas on Wednesday. The 4—4—1—1 formation is expected once again, with Randy Nteka at the forefront of the attack. Radamel Falcao is expected to make an off-the-bench appearance for this game against Barcelona.
Preview FC Barcelona La Liga, Oct 27, 2021
Preview As seen on social media, Ronald Koeman had his vehicle surrounded by a handful of fans on Sunday as he made an attempt to leave Camp Nou following the 2-1 El Clásico defeat to Real Madrid. FC Barcelona publicly condemns the violent and disdainful acts that our manager experienced when leaving the Camp Nou, a statement from the club read. The club will take security and disciplinary measures so that such unfortunate events do not happen again, it said in addition. Vinicius Jnr. had the counter-attack started a moment before David Alaba (32’) finished it up with an exquisite left-footed shot, leaving Marc-André ter Stegen unable to get anything on it. Deep into stoppage time, Lucas Vazquez (90'+4) got on the rebound for Madrid’s second before Sergio Aguero (90'+7) bagged a consolation goal for Barcelona in the final moments. Following the defeat, Barcelona dropped two spots from 7th to 9th place, remaining with 15 points, after 4W, 3D, & 2L, while having a game in hand. Having the form: DWLWL, Koeman could stick with the attacking 4—3—3 formation, which could see Sergio Aguero in the starting lineup, playing at the heart of the attack. Having scored his first goal for the club, the Argentine will be on the hunt for his second in a Barcelona shirt. Martin Braithwaite remains sidelined following the knee operation, while Ousmane Dembélé is ruled out alongside Pedri and Ronald Araújo.