Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Prediction, Preview, Team News and Lineups 31.08.2025

Event Details

• Date and Time: Sunday, August 31, 2025, 3:30 PM EDT
• Venue: Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
• Competition: La Liga

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Preview and Team News

Rayo Vallecano Team News

Abdul Mumin and Nobel Mendy will be unavailable for selection in the upcoming game against Barcelona due to injuries they sustained earlier, and Rayo will have to make do without them. 

The team have won one and lost one of their two league matches so far this season and will aim for some consistency against Barça. In their previous outing, a 0-1 loss to Athletic Club, Rayo maintained possession for 60% of the time but failed to capitalize on it in the final third. 

🅰️ ⚽️ 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, @Jorge_deFrutosS #RayoNeman #EuroRayo pic.twitter.com/lfulBIRLrA

— Rayo Vallecano (@RayoVallecano) August 28, 2025

This came back to haunt them after they conceded a pitiful penalty in the second half and saw it being converted by Sancet. The Vallecas side must also be disappointed by their xG of only 0.29, not to mention just the six shots they took, one of which was on target.

If they are to challenge the defending league champions, Rayo will have to be much sharper inside their opponents’ box. Manager Inigo Perez knows that he has to rotate his squad, especially after a stressful midweek engagement with Grodno in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-4-2): Batalla; Chavarria, Felipe, Lejeune, Ratiu; Garcia, Ciss, Lopez, Isi; Diaz, de Frutos.

Barcelona Team News

Defending league champions Barcelona have started the new season with a bang, going unbeaten in their first two matches. They’re among the better sides in Spain, alongside Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and are once again expected to contend for the league title. 

In the upcoming clash, the Blaugrana will be without the services of star goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who has sustained a back injury, and David Rodríguez, who has been sidelined with a dislocated shoulder. 

Thursday ✅ pic.twitter.com/QKRzfOLSYU

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 29, 2025

The team’s record in the attacking third has been impressive lately. They have scored 23 goals in their last five games, averaging almost five goals per encounter. 

Manager Hansi Flick believes in an all-out attacking approach to playing soccer, and this philosophy is likely to be on display here as well. Barça can turn any moment into a scoring opportunity thanks to the rapid transitions they create from defense to attack.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia; Balde, Cubarsi, Araujo, E. Garcia; Pedri, Casado; Rashford, Raphinha, Yamal; Lewandowski.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Prediction

• Pick: Barcelona to win
• Odds: -233 (20Bet)
• Correct score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-3 Barcelona

Barcelona are the favorites to win this game, and we expect them to cruise to a rather comfortable result. As one of the top teams in the league, they’ve consistently shown how quick they are on the break and how they can pounce on any mistakes made by their opponents. 

For Rayo, the only way to stop the Blaugrana juggernaut will be to mark their men tightly, but even that’s a challenging task given how slippery the likes of Rashford and Yamal have proven to be on the flanks. 

Barça‘s main attacks come through the flanks, and the Vallecas side will have to do their best to prevent lobbed balls and crosses from coming in frequently.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Prediction, Betting Tip

• Pick: Anytime goalscorer – Robert Lewandowski
• Odds: -122 (20Bet)

We expect Robert Lewandowski to get on the scoresheet. Our confidence stems from the fact that the Polish forward is one of the most technically sound strikers in the league, who has consistently demonstrated his ability in one-on-one situations against defenders. 

Lewandowski came off the bench in the 76th minute against Levante, which means that he will be well-rested. Although he played just 14 minutes of that match, his passing accuracy was at an impressive 67%. 

Returning from a minor niggle, Lewandowski has yet to open his account in this season of La Liga, and there are no better opponents than Rayo for him to do so. In 2024-25, he was one of Barcelona’s biggest stars, finding the back of the net on 42 occasions in 52 games across all competitions.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona Where to Watch (USA, Canada)

• ESPN (USA)
• TSN, RDS (Canada)

Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all soccer predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.

By Mohul Bhowmick

Updated: 01 Sep 2025, 06:31