While it wasn’t a perfect start to the season, it was a very solid, if not stellar, beginning for FC Barcelona. It’s the Catalan Club, the standards are always sky high.
However, two losses in four games: to Real Madrid in the home edition of El Clasico and to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League soured the mood.
FC Barcelona at Rayo Vallecano FYIs
Kickoff: Sat. Nov 25, 14:00 CET, Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
FC Barcelona Preview Material: Full Injury List Team News Starting XI Prediction
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
La Liga Standing, Form: Rayo Vallecano 10th, 18 pts, LDDWL FC Barcelona 3rd, 30 pts, WWLWD
Google Result Probability: Rayo Vallecano 19% Draw 23% FC Barcelona 58%
The next chance to generate some positive momentum, and get the good feelings going again, comes Saturday when they travel to Rayo Vallecano, a mid-table side that has certainly proven, at times, to be a tough out.
Let’s take a look at what first team lineup Xavi might put out for this one.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Prediction at Rayo Vallecano
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Joao Cancelo, Jules Kounde, Ronaldo Araujo, Alejandro Balde; Fermin Lopez, Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Joao Felix.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.