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Barcelona welcome one of the most in-form teams in La Liga EA Sports, Íñigo Pérez’s Rayo Vallecano, a side that has made life difficult for the Catalans in recent meetings.
The Madrid outfit will be a tough test for Flick’s men, who are aiming to keep their perfect home record in the league, having won every home match so far, regardless of the stadium (Spotify Camp Nou, Montjuïc or Johan Cruyff).
Here are our predictions for the match.
Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano Tips
Barça to win and score between one and three goals – 20/23 @ bet365
Joan García to make over 1.5 total saves – 1/2 @ bet365
Between one and four total goals and Barça to have the most shots on target – 8/15 @ bet365
Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.
Barça to win, scoring one, two or three goals
Barça have a 100% home record in LaLiga EA Sports, and only two of those matches didn’t see them score between one and three goals (against Valencia and last Sunday against Sevilla).
Based on previous meetings, we expect a lower-scoring game than the one against Newcastle, as Rayo haven’t conceded more than three goals to Barça since 2016, and not in an away fixture since 2015.
Rayo have only conceded more than three goals twice this season in La Liga and have performed well away at both Atlético and Real Madrid.
Tip: Barça to win and score between one and three goals – 20/23 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barcelona win and score between one and three goals
Joan García to make two or more saves
Joan García gave Barça a scare late on in the rout against Newcastle, but he should be available for Flick so that the fans can breathe easier. The Catalan keeper has made two or more saves in nine of Barça’s last ten matches, with the only exception being when Villarreal didn’t manage enough shots on target at Camp Nou.
Let’s not forget the outstanding performance the former Espanyol keeper put in at Vallecas in the first half of the season (five saves). Add in that Rayo have managed at least two shots on target in over 30 consecutive matches and the tip looks likely.
Tip: Joan García to make over 1.5 total saves – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Joan García makes two or more saves
Between one and four total goals, and Barça to have the most shots on target
Here’s a small combo bet we’ve found that offers great value. Nine of Barcelona’s last 12 official matches have seen between one and four goals, a trend that’s also appeared in 11 of their 14 home league games and in Rayo’s last 17 official fixtures.
In addition, 12 of Rayo’s 14 away league matches have featured at least one goal, but never more than four. Looking at head-to-heads, 10 of the last 11 meetings have ended within this goal range, as have four of Rayo’s last five visits to Barça’s ground.
Barça have had the most shots on target in every home league match this season, as well as in every Rayo visit to Barcelona this century.
Tip: Between one and four total goals and Barça to have the most shots on target – 8/15 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if the match ends with one, two, three or four goals and Barcelona have the most shots on target
Odds for Barça v Rayo Vallecano
Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.
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Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.