{"id":147,"date":"2026-08-29T16:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T16:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=147"},"modified":"2026-08-29T16:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T16:18:12","slug":"barcelona-eye-third-straight-clean-sheet-as-tricky-rayo-vallecano-stand-in-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=147","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona eye third straight clean sheet as tricky Rayo Vallecano stand in the way"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Barcelona have started the new La Liga<\/em> season with back-to-back victories, securing a 5-0 win over Elche and following it up with a 2-0 scoreline against Athletic Club.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The 2-0 scoreline is very flattering for the performance the Catalans put in against the Basque club, with Unai Simon enjoying an outrageous night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Most importantly in those two games, Hansi Flick\u2019s men managed to keep two clean sheets, which is a huge positive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now, Joan Garcia<\/a>, fresh from winning the Zamora Trophy last season, is on course to make it three out of three in Bar\u00e7a\u2019s next game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Barcelona\u2019s defence starts strongly<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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The Spain shot-stopper has been rarely troubled so far but has had to make a couple of important interventions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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One came in a one-on-one situation when Barcelona<\/a> were already 3-0 up against Elche, but his save helped ensure the clean sheet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Barcelona\u2019s defensive performance was even more controlled against Athletic Club, with Pau Cubarsi coming into the side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Joan Garcia has been a spectator for much of Barcelona\u2019s La Liga<\/a> campaign so far. (Photo by Eric Alonso\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Basque club failed to register a single shot on target during Bar\u00e7a<\/em>\u2019s victory, with their best opportunity coming through Oihan Sancet, who hit the post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This means Garcia has now gone 180 league minutes without conceding but faces a tricky opponent next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rayo have caused Barcelona<\/a> problems in recent years<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Rayo Vallecano are up next and have started their campaign poorly, taking only one point from their first two matches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, they have proven repeatedly in recent years that they can make life difficult for Hansi Flick\u2019s men.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Under Inigo Perez, Rayo held Barcelona<\/a> to a 1-1 draw at Vallecas, while the return fixture was decided by a Ronald Araujo header in a 1-0 victory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, they are under a new manager, Benat San Jose, and Monday\u2019s game will be a test of just how much better Bar\u00e7a\u2019s defence has become.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rayo Vallecano may not possess the best attacking quality in the league, but their style of play tends to make life extremely difficult for Flick and company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Barcelona are not close to their best defence<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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It is also worth noting that Barcelona\u2019s two clean sheets have come without their first-choice defence in place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Xavi Espart has started and impressed at left-back in both Barcelona<\/a> games so far. (Photo by Francisco Macia\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Xavi Espart has been an emergency fix at left-back and has impressed in his new role<\/a>, but Bar\u00e7a<\/a> are yet to see Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde start games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Similarly, Pau Cubarsi has started just one of two games for Bar\u00e7a<\/a>, and the Spaniard is working his way back to full fitness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Against Rayo, Flick could make some changes, including giving Cancelo or Balde a start, and it remains to be seen how they settle in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Making it three clean sheets out of three would be a massive achievement for Barcelona<\/a>, and all eyes will be on how the defence fares.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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