FC Barcelona take on Rayo Vallecano tonight, in what promises to be an exciting contest between two teams desperately looking for three points.
Barcelona are coming on the back of a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad that has put them in a solid position, in their quest to finish inside the top four in La Liga come May.
Xavi Hernandez will be eyeing a similar result against Vallecano, and with the team receiving a weeklong rest ahead of their next encounter against RCD Mallorca, the Barcelona head coach could field a strong starting eleven.
One of the players destined to start against Rayo Vallecano is Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman has been one of the shining lights for Barça this year, turning the whistles into applause with some exceptional performances down the flanks.
In the last seven league matches he has started, the former Dortmund winger has been involved in six goals, including two assists against Real Madrid in last month’s El Clasico.
If Dembele starts against Rayo Vallecano tonight, he could break the record for more consecutive starts in La Liga matches since his arrival at the club. His previous record of seven starts came back in the 2017/18 campaign, in what was his maiden season in La Liga.
It is a very positive sign for the Frenchman, who has been extremely unfortunate with injuries throughout his spell at Camp Nou.
Unfortunately for Barcelona, Dembele is starting to fulfil his potential only in his last season at the club, as the winger’s current contract expires at the end of the season.
The club are in talks with the player’s agent surrounding a renewal, though, for the immediate future, Xavi will be banking on the French international to deliver against Rayo Vallecano later tonight.
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