Barcelona could bench up to 5 key players for Rayo Vallecano clash

Having secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad earlier in the week, Barcelona will gear up to take on Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou this Sunday.

The game against Sociedad took a toll on the Catalans physically as several players picked up knocks and injuries while they were made to work their socks off to hold on to their narrow lead at the Anoeta.

So, manager Xavi Hernandez might look to make some changes to the starting XI, especially given the quick turnover between the matches.

Jordi Alba seemed to have picked up an injury in midweek against La Real but soldiered on for the entirety of the game. The veteran left-back has hardly had any rest over the course of the season given the lack of backup options in the position.

But, a rest on Sunday against Vallecano could be a good call with more challenging fixtures against the likes of Real Betis and Villarreal on the horizon for the team. Sergino Dest has done the job at left-back previously, while Xavi could also call upon Alejandro Balde.

Midfield prodigy Gavi is another player who could do with a breather. With Pedri out injured, the 17-year-old has become a permanent fixture in the Barça midfield and has played the full ninety minutes in each of their last three games.

Given his tender age, burning him out is a risk that Xavi must look to avoid. In Nico Gonzalez, he has an option ready to step in and could make the call to bench Gavi against Rayo.

The attacking trio of Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele could also be benched for Sunday. Torres and Aubameyang have been playing relentlessly since their arrival and are facing fatigue problems.

Furthermore, Torres’ finishing has again looked quite scratchy. So, taking him out for the game on Sunday could be a realistic option. Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Adama Traore are available at Xavi’s disposal if he decides to switch his attacking trio.