Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed his squad list for the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on August 31. Summer signing Rodri is included and could make his first start at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana face the match with a perfect record, but Rayo Vallecano arrive in a tough spot, sitting 16th with just one point from two games. Their recent form reads defeat and draw, and the team has scored two goals while conceding three. This leaves them eight points behind the leaders, Real Madrid.
Who is in the Barcelona squad?
Flick has announced the squad list of players at his disposal for selection for tonight's game. The main talking point is the inclusion of Rodri, the marquee summer signing, who could get his first start. The German manager is fielding the exact same squad list as used in the win against Athletic Club last time out, meaning there are no fresh returns.
Youngsters Brian Farinas, Xavi Espart, Hamza Abdelkarim, and Eder Aller are included again. However, new goalkeeping addition Dominik Livakovic is not called up because the club has not yet registered him with La Liga. The long-term absences of Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji continue.
What absences affect Rayo?
While Barcelona miss Gavi, who is still recovering from the knee injury sustained on the opening day and is expected back against Valencia, Rayo Vallecano have their own injury concerns. According to our verified data, goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, defender Luiz Felipe, and midfielder Isi Palazón are currently sidelined. This presents an additional challenge for the Madrid-based side as they search for their first win of the season in such a demanding venue.
You can check the full team status on our injuries page.
What is Rayo's form heading into the match?
Rayo's start to the season has not gone to plan. With one point from a possible six, the team needs to react quickly to climb away from the lower reaches of the standings. Their next fixture after the trip to Camp Nou is at home against 9th-placed Racing Santander on September 5th. This match is already listed on our fixtures calendar.
Their performance data, with two goals scored and three conceded, points to areas needing urgent improvement. Facing an in-form Barcelona side that is also bolstering its midfield with Rodri represents the ultimate test. The Rayo Vallecano squad for 2026 must show its mettle in these situations.
What does this squad list mean for the clash?
Rodri's inclusion gives Flick an added quality option in the center of the park, an area where Barcelona is short due to injuries. For Rayo, the focus must be on a solid defense and exploiting transitions, especially given their own significant absences. The new signing's presence is the standout pre-match detail.
The match will be a measure of Rayo's true capacity to respond. A positive result, or even a credible performance at Camp Nou, could provide a platform for their campaign. All information on available players can be found in our squad section.
