While the win over Milan showed what this team is capable of, it also raised the question of why couldn’t the players perform at the same level against Real Madrid and the first game in Milan. There may have been tactical errors and some bad luck involved in those defeats but it is quite clear that the level of pressing was nowhere near that shown on Tuesday night.
This recent drop in form may have been due to various factors. It may just have been the almost traditional February dip, as the players’ physical preparation is planned to have them at their peak in April and May. More worrying is the idea that after so much success in recent years it is difficult for some players to find the same level of hunger and motivation week in week out. The absence of Tito Vilanova hasn’t helped of course. Obviously he is missed as a leader, but the situation must also be emotionally draining on a dressing room that, along with Eric Abidal’s illness, has suffered more than its fair share of trauma in the past two years.
Rayo will be without left back José Manuel Casado, midfielder Javi Fuego and centre forward Leo Baptistao who are all suspended for tomorrow’s game. Coach Paco Jemez has called up Nacho Martínez, Jordi Amat and the seventeen year old midfielder Isaac Gómez (known as ‘Isi’) to his 18-man squad. Rayo’s 2-0 win over Espanyol last weekend moved them up to 8th place in the table on 41 points. With relegation no longer a danger Jemez’s men will be hoping to finish the season strongly to challenge for a place in Europe. Their away form this season has been patchy with four wins, a draw and eight defeats on their travels, though their victories were achieved on the difficult visits to Athletic, Valencia, Malaga and Betis which demonstrates their capabilities.
However, in the last three league meetings between Barça and Rayo the total score reads 16-0 in Barça’s favour. Last season the game at Camp Nou ended in a 4-0 home win with two goals from Alexis Sanchez and one a-piece for David Villa and Leo Messi. While the last two games in Vallecas have ended 0-7 and 0-5 in Barça’s favour. Rayo have only managed one victory in thirteen visits to Camp Nou, a 0-2 win in the 1999/2000 season.
Possible teams:
Barça: Pinto, Adriano, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Thiago, Busquets, Fabregas; Alexis, Messi, Tello/Villa.
Rayo: Ruben; Tito, Gálvez, Amat, Arbilla; Adrian, Trashorras; Lass, Dominguez, Piti; Jose Carlos.
Prediction: Barça 4 Rayo 0
Date: Sunday 17 March 2013. Kick off 9 pm local time.