A few boos ring out as Rayo enjoy a short spell of possession. Not for long. Barca build again from the back, but Frenkie de Jong can't find the through ball towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang which he desired.

Just joining us? Here's a reminder of the two teams...

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Alba, García, Araujo, Dest, Gavi, Busquets, De Jong, Torres, Aubameyang, Dembele.

Rayo Vallecano XI: Dimitrievski, FGarcía, Catena, Maras, Balliu, Comesaña, Valentín, A García, Lopez, Palazon, Nteka.

Ousmane Dembele seems to have revived his Barca career and is straight into the thick of the action.

The Frenchman whips in a cross from the right and Rayo defender Ivan Balliu nods out for a corner. Safety first.

The corner comes to nothing, however.

As you would expect, Barcelona settle straight into having hold of the ball and trying to impose their possession-based style.

Slash's guitar melody blasts out of the Nou Camp speakers as Sweet Child of Mine greets the two sets of players.

That is quickly replaced by the Barca club anthem - you know the one, classical tune with the clapping on the chorus - before we get off slightly after the scheduled time.

Manana, manana.

Image source, Getty Images

Newly-promoted Rayo Vallecano made an astonishing start in their return to the Spanish top-flight, sitting pretty in the Champions League qualifying spots after the opening 18 games.

Nine victories in that promising run included, of course, the famous win at Vallecas against Barcelona.

However, the fun of 2021 was soon replaced by misery in 2022.

Rayo were unable to win any of their next 13 games after the winter break, finally putting an end to their shocking run with a 1-0 win at Espanyol on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

A cracking spring evening in Barcelona tonight. You can almost feel the sun on your face and smell the pre-match bocadillos.

If you're in the city and not at the Nou Camp, you're strolling along Barceloneta and watching the entertainers strutting their stuff on the promenade.

Or you're sat in a Gracia square watching the world go by.

Ahhhh, what a city. What a life!

Following their 1-0 win at Vallecas in October, Rayo have the chance to become only the fourth promoted team to win both of their games against Barcelona in a La Liga campaign.

However, it has been a while since anyone has managed to do it. The last team to manage that feat was UD Salamanca in 1997-98.

While Barca have only lost once in La Liga this year under Xavi - a shock 1-0 home defeat by Cadiz on Monday - the reality of the task facing Xavi and the hierarchy still remains stark.

There is a huge gulf of 15 points between runaway leaders Real Madrid and second-placed Barca, while Xavi's side was knocked out of the Europa League quarter-finals by German side Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this month.

Barca certainly haven't been in vintage form recently, either. So there is hope for Rayo of achieving a rare double...

Barcelona may be playing their third game of the week, but Xavi clearly doesn't feel he is able to make too many changes.

In fact, the Barca boss makes just two swaps from the side which started Thursday's win at Real Sociedad.

Veteran pair Dani Alves and Gerard Pique are given a rest, with Sergino Dest coming in at right-back and Eric Garcia starting at centre-back.

Rayo Vallecano also played midweek and have made three changes from a 1-0 win at Espanyol.

Right-back Mario Hernandez, midfielder Oscar Trejo and forward Sergi Guardiola all drop out, with Ivan Balieu, Unai Lopez and Randy Nteka replacing the trio.

Rayo's most familiar face - former Atletico Madrid and Monaco forward Radamel Falcao - starts on the bench.

Image source, Getty Images

Good evening! Or, if we are really going to get into the Spanish spirit, buenas noches!

Barcelona are still not the Barcelona which most of us knew and admired over the past 15 years or so.

But, following the appointment of legendary midfielder Xavi, there are signs of recovery for the Catalan heavyweights.

The former Barca captain arrived as Ronald Koeman's replacement in November, with the club having dropped to ninth in the Spanish top-flight table under the Dutchman.

Now they are in second place and can move nine points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis with a win tonight.

Image source, Reuters

Remember when Barcelona were floundering and a top-four place looked far from certain?

Well, tonight they can take a major step to finishing in the La Liga top four and - most importantly, from a football and financial point of view - clinching their spot in the Champions League next season.

In the way is their old rivals from Madrid.

No, not them. Nor the other one. But the other others... Rayo Vallecano.