Welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the La Liga meeting between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona in Vallecas.
The reigning Spanish champions have got their campaign back on track with four wins in a row in all competitions, including a resounding 5-1 success against Real Madrid last weekend.
Rayo are languishing in the relegation zone after winning just one of their opening 10 matches, meanwhile, and they have lost five in a row on home soil against today's opponents.
Follow all of the action as it unfolds in the Spanish capital with our extensive updates below.
STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur; Rafinha, Suarez, Coutinho
SUBS: Cillessen, Semedo, Chumi, Vidal, Alena, Munir, Dembele
STARTING XI: Garcia; Advincula, Galvez, Amat, Moreno; Comesana; Embarba, Imbula, Trejo, Pozo; De Tomas
SUBS: Dimitrievskki, Ba, Velazquez, Bebe, Pozo, Kakuta, Alegria
© Reuters
© Reuters
Michel: "I change everything if Messi does not play. It would increase the problem and the problem would be different. I do not understand that the Barca game is for me a free game but I am worried because I am a Rayista. At the start of the game we have 50% chance to beat Barca, 90% of Spaniards think we're going to lose, the other 10% are Vallecas and that's what we're going to get."
Ernesto Valverde: "It has been difficult lately, playing against Sevilla and Real Madrid, with Inter in the middle. We have taken a big step forward but what we can't do is stop to think about our opponents. The three points that are on offer in Vallecas are the same amount as you get for beating Madrid. Our previous defeat against Leganes can be a message for us, without a doubt. The fact that we lost that game gives us a lesson to learn from and we will do that."
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0 - Barcelona have not won any of their last two La Liga away games (D1 L1), the last time they went three such matches without a win was back in May 2011 (five). Defiance. pic.twitter.com/zBm4szsG1r
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 3, 2018
RAYO VALLECANO SUBS: Dimitrievskki, Ba, Velazquez, Bebe, Pozo, Kakuta, Alegria
BARCELONA SUBS: Cillessen, Semedo, Chumi, Vidal, Alena, Munir, Dembele
© Reuters
© Reuters