Resolute Rayo: Barca unable to combat Vallecano’s high pressing and tough defending – tactical analysis

It is no secret that Barcelona have had their issues off the pitch in recent years – many of those troubles remain to this day. Financial issues, deferred wages, uncertainty around registering new signings – the list goes on. It is incredibly sad to see this happen to one of the giants in world football, but there is an argument that they only have themselves to blame. These behind-the-scenes concerns translate onto the pitch, so it seems.

Barca haven’t landed a La Liga title since the 2018/19 season – quite the wait for the Catalan club, and they have struggled to find their feet in the UEFA Champions League for some time now. Things don’t seem to get any easier this season either, as portrayed by their recent goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano in the opening game of the 2022/23 campaign.

Vallecano are a club who have experienced their fair share of off-the-pitch trouble in its history too, but now they are a club on the rise, it seems. They enjoyed a comfortable season last time out, finishing 12^th in La Liga in their first campaign back in the top flight after their promotion back to the big time. They also reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey: a feat only ever achieved by the club once before and for the first time since 1982.

This report will provide a tactical analysis of the goalless draw between the two clubs. Expect an analysis of how Barcelona were unable to break through despite having a healthy amount of possession and plenty of attempts on goal, while we also analyse the defensive tactics of Rayo. Finally, there will be an analysis of Robert Lewandowski’s debut for the Spanish giants as we look to uncover why he failed to make an immediate impact.

Lineups

Hosts Barca were set up in their classic 4-3-3 shape by club legend-turned-manager Xavi. Marc-Ándre ter Stegen lined up between the sticks with a back four of Jordi Alba, Eric García, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araújo. Club stalwart Sergio Busquets operated in his usual defensive midfielder role – up until he was shown a red card in the latter stages of the game. Young sensations Pedri and Gavi lined up in central midfield to provide support to a front three of Ousmane Dembélé, Raphina, and one of the best strikers of his generation – Robert Lewandowski.

Rayo Vallecano deployed a flat 4-4-2 with the aim of stopping the Barca threat in their own defensive third but also occupying them further up the pitch. Stole Dimitrievski was the man to keep a clean sheet in goal, with big thanks to his back four of Fran García, Alejandro Catena, Florian Lejeune, and Iván Balliu. Álvaro García and Isi Palazón operated on the flanks with central presence from Pathé Ciss and Unai López. Sergio Camello and Óscar Trejo made up the attacking unit for the visitors.