MX23RW : Monday, November 5 14:15:24
Nov 3, 2018 at 7.45pm UK at ​Estadio del Rayo Vallecano (de Vallecas Teresa Rivero) (Madrid)
Attendance: 13,785
Rayo Vallecano
2-3
Barcelona
Angel Pozo (35'), Garcia (57')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Suarez (11', 90'), Dembele (87')

How Barcelona could line up against Rayo Vallecano

Ahead of Barcelona's La Liga trip to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, Sports Mole looks at how the Spanish champions could line up.

Following a morale-boosting win over Real Madrid in last week's one-sided El Clasico, Barcelona will now aim to strengthen their grip on top spot when they travel to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening.

The reigning Spanish champions saw off their arch-rivals with a 5-1 win at Camp Nou to make it back-to-back league victories for the first time since mid-September.

Ernesto Valverde's job now looks a lot safer than it did a fortnight ago, but he will be wary of this weekend's potential banana skin fixture in the capital.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors may line up at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas.

Possible BAR XI vs. RAY

Out: Samuel Umtiti (knee), Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring)
Doubtful: Lionel Messi (arm)

Rafinha has been given a run in the side out on the right of Barca's front three in the absence of Messi, with Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho alongside him.

Valverde will unlikely feel the need to shuffle his pack, especially having been given the chance to heavily rotate for the midweek cup win over Cultural Leonesa.

Ousmane Dembele and Malcom will be pushing for a starting spot, but the one place up for grabs on the right is now seen as Rafinha's to lose.

Further back, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and summer recruit Arthur have clicked into gear in recent weeks and should start again here, while Clement Lenglet - the matchwinner against Leonesa - appears certain to continue his partnership with Gerard Pique in the heart of defence.

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Who will win Saturday's La Liga clash in Madrid?

Rayo Vallecano
Draw
Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano
5.9%
Draw
5.9%
Barcelona
88.2%
Rafinha celebrates with Philippe Coutinho after opening the scoring for Barcelona in their Champions League tie with Inter Milan on October 24, 2018
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How Barcelona could line up against Madrid
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona1173131141724
2Sevilla116232213920
3Atletico MadridAtletico11551136720
4AlavesAlaves116231511420
5Espanyol10532148618
6Real Madrid115241614217
7Levante115241716117
8Getafe11443108216
9Real Valladolid1144399016
10GironaGirona114431314-116
11Celta Vigo113532016414
12EibarEibar114251218-614
13Real Sociedad113441213-113
14Real Betis11344812-413
15Valencia1118279-211
16Villarreal11245911-210
17Athletic Bilbao101721115-410
18Leganes11236916-79
19Rayo Vallecano111371223-116
20Huesca11137822-146

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