The upcoming match of FC Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano will provide Hansi Flick’s side with an opportunity to go top of the table in La Liga.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both saw players sent off as they fell to draws away at Osasuna and Celta Vigo, in a surprise twist in the tale in the title race.
Los Blaugranes will be at home in their next match, and they will hope this advantage can give them an edge over Rayo Vallecano, who are unbeaten in their last nine La Liga matches.
Flick may be using a surprising method in order to try and gain another advantage, and repeat a tactic the club deployed against Sevilla last week.
As per Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have not released an official squad list ahead of the game against Sevilla. This decision may have been influenced by transfer rumors surrounding Ansu Fati, as he was linked with a move to Turkey, where the winter transfer window was still open. As a result, he was omitted from the squad for that match.
However, with no imminent transfer on the horizon for Ansu Fati, all eyes will be on another key Barcelona player whose participation against Rayo Vallecano is uncertain.
Beyond Fati, defender Ronald Araújo is also a doubt for the game due to injury and it is claimed that the decision to release the squad information in advance of the game will be left in Flick’s hands.
If Araújo and Fati are out of the squad, Barcelona will likely line up with Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí in defense, whilst Raphinha and Lamine Yamal will continue on the wings.
Fati’s future is far from clear, with the winger out in the cold and failing to earn enough game time to recover his form after a failed loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League last season.
The clash with Rayo promises to be a challenging one, with Inigo Perez’s side currently in sixth place in La Liga.
