FC Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano

Posted Saturday, October 27, 2012 by

FC Bareclona will be on the road to take on Rayo Vallecano on Oct. 27. Barça is a perfect 4-0-0 in La Liga play as the road team this season.

Familiar Faces On Rayo

It's impossible for Barça to keep all of the talent it develops. This Saturday's match is a prime example as Rayo features three regular starters who were once Barcelona youth players (Rubén, Casado, and Roberto Trashorras). Sergio Rodri is a bench player for Rayo who also used to be with the Barcelona organization. Rubén has started seven matches for Rayo this season, making 24 saves and recording one clean sheet. Trashorras has played seven matches this season (starting four) and has scored one goal. Casado has started seven matches at left back while Rodri has only been subbed on in one match. Though not associated with Barcelona, the youngster Leo is the player to watch for Rayo with a team-leading four goals on the campaign.
Barça Will Look To Get Offense Back On Track

Despite thoroughly dominating possession in Tuesday's Champions League match against Celtic and taking more than six times as many shots as the Scottish side, Barcelona scored just twice in a 2-1 victory. The shooting percentage in that match (7.7 percent) represented the second-lowest mark of the season across competitions for the Catalans. While mid-table Rayo have conceded 17 times in league play this season, only three of those goals have been surrendered at home. That's bad news for a Barcelona side trying to preserve the only unblemished road record in La Liga. Lionel Messi netted a hat trick in the last league road match and Barcelona fans would love to see a repeat performance on Saturday.
Can Barça Defense Get A Shutout?

Even more troublesome than playing another side with a good defense at home is that the Barça defense has conceded an average of two goals per match on the road in La Liga. Barcelona has just one clean sheet in six road matches across competitions. Backline injuries have played a role in conceding goals, so it was good news that Dani Alves was back in full training on Wednesday. However, Mascherano could miss the Rayo match unless Barcelona's appeal of his double-booking and send off against Deportivo is successful.
Barcelona is a clear favorite to win the match, but the league leaders will need to finish their chances at a higher clip than they did against Celtic to avoid another close match. It would also be good for the blood pressure of fans if Barça did not fall behind in the match, as it has in over half of the games this season.

Patrick Johnston has been an FC Barcelona fan since Samuel Eto'o joined the club and wore the No. 9 shirt.