Stole Dimitrievski breathes a sigh of relief.

The Rayo goalkeeper drops a hopeful cross into the box from Memphis Depay, but the hosts eventually manage to clear their lines.

Barcelona are beginning to ease their way into the game.

Better from Barcelona, who force a corner through Sergino Dest.

The outswinging delivery is easily cleared by a Rayo defender and the ball goes all the way back to Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the other end.

A half-chance for Barcelona as Memphis Depay latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and pulls the trigger, but it wasn't troubling Rayo keeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Fran Garcia is causing Barcelona all sorts of problems down the left-hand side.

The 22-year-old finds space to fire in another low cross but ter Stegen is equal to it once again.

Rayo have started with a real spring in their step here.

Barcelona have yet to settle.

More fine play from Trejo, who feeds Fran Garcia on the left but the full-back's low cross is straight into the arms of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Trejo then channels his inner David Beckham, trying to lob the Barcelona goalkeeper from the halfway line. Ter Stegen scrambles back towards his own goal and makes an easy save.

Fabulous atmosphere at the Estadio de Vallecas.

The hosts have started confidently too. Oscar Trejo gets on the end of a teasing cross from the left but fails to direct his header on target.

And away we go!

The teams are out. Kick-off at the Estadio de Vallecas is just moments away.

Image source, Getty Images

Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola on Barcelona: "They come here after losing an important game, but we have come from losing an important game against Betis and we also want to win again.

"I think the game against Real Madrid was even and they had opportunities to score, even before conceding the second goal. If those chances had gone in, these questions would have been different."

On Radamel Falcao: "We have to try to get the team to play as close to the area as possible, so that we can take advantage of what he does best, which is finishing. I think the way we play is good for him."

Image source, Getty Images

We’ll also be bringing you updates from the Bernabeu later on, as Real Madrid - Barcelona's conquerors on Sunday - look to leapfrog Real Sociedad at the top of La Liga with victory at home to Osasuna.

Make sure you stick around for that.

Andy West
Spanish football writer

Image source, Getty Images

When Barcelona attempt to revive their already flagging title ambitions on Wednesday night, they will be confronted by La Liga's most prolific marksman this century outside the 'big two'.

Radamel Falcao is back in Spain after joining Rayo Vallecano and, with 55 goals in 73 games, the Colombian has a better goals-per-game career record (0.76) than anyone other than Cristiano Ronaldo (1.07) and Lionel Messi (0.91) in La Liga history.

Falcao has returned to the country - and the city - that propelled him to global superstardom. And although, at the age of 35, he's no longer the unstoppable force of nature seen in his peak years, he has proved to be a hugely significant signing both on and off the pitch.

Read more here.

Rayo have lost their previous 13 league encounters with Barcelona, their last La Liga victory over the Blaugrana coming in December 2002.

Since then they have conceded a whopping 56 goals against Barca in the league, scoring just eight.

They have, however, won all four league games at the Estadio de Vallecas this season.

Image source, BBC Sport

The La Liga table doesn't make for particularly pleasant reading for those of a Barcelona persuasion.

That said, a win tonight would draw Koeman's team level with fourth-place Atletico Madrid, who travel to Levante on Thursday.

Real Betis and Osasuna are also in action this evening.

Image source, Rex Features

Koeman wants to "enjoy the time I have left" as Barcelona manager as he faces mounting pressure following the defeat by Real Madrid in El Clasico.

The Dutchman says his side "cannot afford back-to-back losses".

Read more from Koeman here.

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Sergio Aguero makes his first Barcelona start as Koeman makes four changes to the side beaten by Real at the weekend.

Aguero is joined in the starting line-up by Philippe Coutinho, Sergi Roberto and Nico Gonzalez. Coutinho makes his 100th appearance for Barca in all competitions.

Luuk de Jong, Oscar Mingueza and Gavi drop to the bench, while Ansu Fati misses out through injury.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Garcia, Pique, Alba, Coutinho, Busquets, Nico, Dest, Aguero, Depay

Radamel Falcao returns for Rayo Vallecano, who make five changes to the side that lost to Real Betis.

Santi, Isi, Oscar Valentin and Esteban Saveljich are also recalled, with Nikola Maras, Randy Nteka, Unai Lopez, Pathe Ciss and Mario Hernandez dropping to the bench.

Rayo Vallecano XI: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Saveljich, Catena, Fran Garcia, Isi, Trejo, Alvaro Garcia, Falcao, Oscar, Santi

Image source, Getty Images

If Ronald Koeman thought he couldn’t be under more pressure than he already was prior to Sunday’s defeat at home to Real Madrid, he was wildly mistaken.

The 2-1 reverse at Camp Nou left Barca ninth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Real Sociedad and one behind tonight’s opponents, in-form Rayo Vallecano.

The Dutchman’s car was surrounded by angry supporters as he left the stadium at the weekend, although the vast majority of Blaugrana fans showed their support for the 58-year-old during El Clasico.

Another defeat tonight could have disastrous consequences, however.