Barcelona go to Vallecas tonight at 21:30 CEST for Matchday 3 looking for three out of three wins. The pitch is in poor condition and Rayo will press high. Wojciech Szczesny is registered and available. Roony Bardghji is not registered. Gerard Martín makes the squad. Frenkie de Jong returns. The big call up front is Ferran Torres or Robert Lewandowski.
Team news
Szczesny received the green light last night with the number 25 while Bardghji did not make the 23 man list. Gerard Martín is in after being registered on Friday. Marc André ter Stegen, Gavi and Marc Bernal are out. Frenkie de Jong returns after skipping the Levante match to be with his family for the birth of his second child.
Form and context
Barcelona opened with a 0-3 win at Mallorca and a 2-3 comeback at Levante. Rayo beat Girona 1-3 then lost 1-0 at Athletic and qualified for the Conference League after a 4-0 win over Neman. The visit is traditionally tough and the surface could slow build up.
Probable lineups
According to SPORT lineup projection:
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Luiz Felipe, Pep Chavarría, Ciss, Unai López, Isi Palazón, Pedro Díaz, Álvaro García, De Frutos
Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Koundé, Eric Garcia, Cubarsí, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Raphinha
Barcelona need a clean start, smart exits under pressure and sharp work out wide. If the midfield controls the rhythm and the nine finishes the chances they can finish August perfect.
