Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona

The two sides that have had identical returns from their last four La Liga matches (W2, L2) will lock horns at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas as Rayo Vallecano take on Barcelona.

One victory across their last three La Liga matches sandwiched by a brace of single-goal margin defeats has seen Rayo Vallecano’s form trajectory take a downward curve. Vallecano’s recent showings represent a turnaround from a five-game unbeaten league run beforehand (W4, D1), which could be a concern against a side they have lost to in all 13 previous top-flight H2Hs. Alarmingly, ‘Los Franjirrojos’ conceded an average of 4.3 goals per match during that 13-match sequence, which ties in with their recent defensive displays. Andoni Iraola’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five La Liga outings, including a 3-2 away defeat to Real Betis over the weekend. Encouragingly, though, they have won four consecutive top-flight home fixtures and could make it five home wins in a row in La Liga for the first time since April 2014.

In the meantime, Real Madrid’s hard-earned 2-1 win in the latest installment of the famous El Clasico added insult to injury amid Barcelona’s underwhelming start to life after Lionel Messi. Since being held to a dismal scoreless draw away to Cadiz in mid-September, the Catalans have not seen any of their subsequent four La Liga matches end level (W2, L2). However, Ronald Koeman’s men have yet to win a top-flight game on the road this season (D2, L1), drawing a blank in their last two league trips! If they fail to get on the scoresheet here, it would be the first time since February 2003 that Barcelona have gone three straight la Liga trips without scoring. But they can find some confidence in the fact they’ve won both previous La Liga visits to newly-promoted sides without conceding.