Hansi Flick has urged his Barcelona side to “maintain our level” from their Champions League win over Newcastle United when they host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Barca thrashed Newcastle 7-2 in their Champions League last 16 second leg, securing an 8-3 aggregate victory to set up a quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid.
The Blaugrana are four points clear at the top of LaLiga, with second-placed Real Madrid facing rivals Atletico on Sunday ahead of the international break.
Barcelona have won 23 of their 28 matches in LaLiga 2025-26 (D1 L4); this is their campaign with the fewest draws at this stage in their top-flight history.
After their rampant win over Newcastle, Flick wants his Barca side to play with the same intensity.
“It’s very important to maintain our level,” said Flick.
“Seeing the players enjoy playing football the way they did against Newcastle was really great.
“Rayo tends to play the same at home and away. They are an experienced group with a lot of intensity, and that’s what we expect to face tomorrow.”
Boooooooom pic.twitter.com/cCI4TNtwkQ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 21, 2026
Barca face Atletico twice immediately after the international break, first in LaLiga before their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The Blaugrana have already played Diego Simeone’s side three times this season (once in LaLiga, twice in the Copa del Rey), winning on two occasions (L1).
Flick has welcomed the timing of the international break, believing his players must make the most of the rest.
“We’ll train during the international break, but we’ll give a few days of rest to those who stay,” added the Barca boss.
“It’s also positive for those who leave. It’s good to disconnect from the routine to return with more energy.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona – Raphinha
Raphinha has reached 10 goals for Barcelona in LaLiga for the second consecutive season (18 in 2024-25 and 11 in the current campaign), while only Robert Lewandowski (38) has scored more goals than him among Barcelona players combining the last two league seasons (29).
Rayo Vallecano – Florian Lejeune
Florian Lejeune assisted Rayo Vallecano’s goal in their last LaLiga match against Levante, ending his longest run without a goal involvement for the Vallecano side in the top-flight (28 games).
MATCH PREDICTION – BARCELONA WIN
At home, Barcelona are on their second-longest run without conceding a goal against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga (three games – W2 D1), after four matches between 1993 and 1997 (W4).
And Vallecano have not won any of their last eight away matches in LaLiga (D3 L5), their longest winless run on the road in the competition since May 2024 (nine games – D3 L6).
However, after 13 consecutive LaLiga wins against Rayo Vallecano between May 2003 and March 2019, Barcelona have only won three of their last nine matches against them in the competition (D3 L3).
Vallecano are the opponent against whom Barca have dropped points in the most games since the 2021-22 season (six).
The visitors have scored in their last eight LaLiga games (12 goals), their best scoring run in the competition since a 10-match streak between December 2024 and February 2025 (14 goals).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Barcelona – 71.3%
Draw – 16.3%
Rayo Vallecano – 12.3%
