Match preview: Rayo Vallecano vs FC Barcelona: No Defenders, Ever

By: Natasha | October 26th, 2012

He's back, but what exactly is he saying? Hmm...

We’ve had a few days to recover after Tuesday’s match. Just in time for tomorrow’s match against Rayo Vallecano, right? Right…

The good news is that Dani Alves is back and part of the squad list. The bad news is that Mascherano is suspended after receiving a red card last week and the club’s appeal was rejected. What Barça giveth, Barça taketh away. At least he won’t score another own goal? I’m sure a different player will manage to, though. Why stop now?! Meanwhile, the never ending defence crisis is still just that – never ending – and I think I am yet to write a preview that doesn’t mention the fact that we have no experienced centre backs.

So what to expect tomorrow? Last time Barça faced Rayo, it ended 0-7 to Barça. Given that clean sheets seem to be a thing of the past, and especially as there’s a distinct lack of centre backs, I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of that scoreline. Rayo’s last 6 matches have consisted of four losses, one win and one draw and they’re currently in 12^th position, but interestingly, only 4 points behind Real Madrid who are in 4^th position.

Much has been made of Barça’s 8-point advantage over Real Madrid, but I think the threat of Atletico has been overlooked. They’re also on 22 points, although Barça are ahead on goal difference, but there’s no room for error.

Allow me to try and piece together a squad, then. I predict we’ll see Valdes – Dani Alves, Bartra, Song, Jordi Alba – Busquets, Iniesta, Cesc – Tello, Messi, Alexis. I hope we see Bartra play the full 90 minutes tomorrow, not just because he’s the only choice for CB (or, erm, Adriano can play there?), but because he played pretty well on Tuesday and now is the time for him to step up to the challenge. It’s not ideal for him to be partnered with Song because he needs to play with Puyol or Piqué and learn from their experience, but that’s how it goes. Let’s rest Xavi and play Cesc and see if he continues his good form. As for the attack, can we please have Tello to try and stop the fruitless attacking down the middle? Good. Messi will never rest, and Alexis will play purely to frustrate me and do very little.

That’s my attempt at reverse psychology for today.

As for a predicted scoreline, I will go for 1-3. If the last few matches are anything to go by, Rayo will score first and Barça will make things very difficult for themselves and even it up in the second half and go on to win. Messi must score another hattrick or there will be calls to sell him due to his poor form. Busquets will do everything right and he will be given a player rating of 12. Haha. I’m going to stop before this gets silly…or even sillier, actually.

brithday_ADRIANO_404x404

In non-match related news, today is Adriano’s birthday! May his birthday gift be a win tomorrow.

We kick off tomorrow at 9pm GMT, 10pm CET. Visca Barça!

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Category: Team News

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Kageglantz

Starting lineups announced: Song and Adriano as CBs (Yikes!) -- Cesc starts -- and VILLA gets a start! That's great, except we have no defense. Rayo will press high and hope Song gets rattled (he might, but he is a midfielder, after all, so he can pass, and so can Adriano). Busquets apparently has been rated 12 for the game even before the opening whistle.

1 Víctor Valdés
19 Montoya
25 Alex Song
21 Adriano
18 Jordi Alba
6 Xavi
16 Busquets
4 Fábregas
17 Pedro
10 Messi
7 Villa
Natasha

Well, I don't think my lineup prediction could have been more wrong. Good to see Villa start though and I'm quite pleased Alexis has been benched. I half-joked about Adriano playing CB but didn't think that would actually happen. I'd much prefer Bartra, but then again, I'd prefer Puyol too...I don't ask for much!

By the end of the match, Busquets will be rated at least 15.
Afakk

I think Dani won't be in the starting line up (nor do i wish him to be, Montoya is doing great) and yes, we will concede at least one goal, probably two but we won't be scoring less than 4 goals.So 2-4 the score line, probably 2-5 with a brace from Messi and Tello(if he plays longer than 60 minutes) and another from David Villa.
Alee

Why do I get the feeling this is going to be another scrape-by-by-the-skin-of-our-teeth matches? Song and Bartra as a CB pairing. Eeeeeeek
babu

Vilanova said during Friday's pre-game press briefing at the Camp Nou
that Alves may not go straight into the starting XI as his form before
his injury had not been up to his usual high standard.

some sense finally