Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano: Player Ratings
Barça thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-2 with Yamal unplayable and Raphinha scoring again. Full player ratings and tactical breakdown from the win.
Barcelona dominated Rayo Vallecano in their third game of the season, securing a comfortable 5-2 win.
Joan Garcia: 6
Joan was let down by his defense for the first goal, but should have done much better for the second, conceding a saveable header. His long-ball accuracy was also below his usual standard.
Pau Cubarsi: 8
Produced 111 passes, comfortably the most of anyone on the pitch. Part of
the makeshift back three alongside Christensen and Kounde, his ability to split lines from deep gave the front six the platform to dominate territory.
Andreas Christensen: 7.5
Christensen had some good moments individually, but he has yet to show the same chemistry with Cubarsi as Gerard Martin. He could do little about the opener and won most of his duels. Solid without being spectacular.
Jules Kounde: 6.5
Kounde’s display was a mixed bag. His error gifted Rayo the opening goal, and he struggled under pressure. That said, his overlapping runs facilitated Lamine far better than Eric, creating more space for him to operate.
Xavi Espart: 9
Playing almost as an interior rather than a full-back, he was directly involved in 3 goals: his first-time ball found Raphinha for the opener, and his positioning dragged Rayo's defensive line out of shape. He made the system tick.
Marc Bernal: 8
Playing almost as an interior rather than a full-back, he was directly involved in 3 goals: his first-time ball found Raphinha for the opener, and his positioning dragged Rayo's defensive line out of shape. He made the system tick.
Pedri: 8
He did not get on the scoresheet, but Pedri played for the purists. The clearest sign of his physical level is how effortlessly he once again evaded pressure. His pass in the build-up to Raphinha’s first goal was incredible.
Dani Olmo: 7
Olmo could not provide the same supporting runs for Lamine that Fermin normally does. Still, he found pockets of space created by Bernal and Pedri’s rotations as Barça worked the ball through midfield.
Lamine Yamal: 10
Barça's best player on the day. Two goals, seven key passes, seven completed dribbles — numbers that barely capture how dominant he was. Could easily have finished with two assists on top of his brace.
Anthony Gordon: 9
Three assists in three games now, and he forced the own goal with a driving run in behind that Rayo simply couldn't handle. His finishing needs polishing, but his movement in the left channel gives Barça a massive edge.
Raphinha: 9.5
Two more goals, taking his tally to five in three matches. Constantly dropping into pockets rather than staying pinned to the last line. His understanding with Espart and Gordon continues to stand out.
