Radamel Falcao scores!!!

Barcelona will be determined to get back to winning ways when they face Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas this Wednesday evening. After losing 2-1 in the Clasico last weekend, Ronald Koeman will be hoping that his team can change the atmosphere around the club with a positive performance. Surprisingly, Rayo come into this match against Barcelona in a higher league position as they currently sit eighth, while the Blaugrana are ninth. Stay with us in this live blog for the build-up to Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona and then updates from the match itself.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona LIVE: 1-0

This is the start of our Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona live blog, with our updates from this LaLiga Santander fixture following on from here. As always, the entries nearest the top are the most recent ones.

Minute 36: Dest misses a sitter

Some lovely skill by Memphis followed by a killer ball between goalkeeper and defence finds Dest in the six yard box, but the full back blazes over from close range.

Minute 30: Falcao scores!

Busquets is robbed of the ball in midfield and a quick breakawy leaves Falcao one-on-one with Pique. The veteran forward cuts inside and calmly dispatches beyond Ter Stegen, via the post.

Minute 20: Falcao goes close

Falcao has a go from just outside the area, which takes a deflection and goes within inches of Ter Stegen's far post.

Minute 16: No penalty for Aguero

Aguero is through on goal and goes to take it past Dimitrievski who comes out to close him down. The goalkeeper appears to bring the striker to the ground but Aguero does not appeal and VAR does not intervene.

Minute 8: Barcelona's first attempt

Memphis has Barcelona's first attempt, with a strike towards the near post, but it goes wide.

Minute 2: Trejo from the halfway line!

Trejo has an effort from inside his own half, attempting to catch Ter Stegen off his line. It was on target, but the German managed to claw it away before it could dip between the sticks.

WE'RE UNDERWAY!

The ball is rolling at Vallecas. Can Barcelona bounce back against Rayo or will the hosts continue their excellent start on home soil?

17:55 BST: Rayo's confirmed XI: Falcao leads the line

Radamel Falcao will start up front for Rayo against Barcelona, and it's a familiar looking eleven for Andoni Iraola as the hosts look to exploit Ronald Koeman's wounded men.

Rayo Vallecano's confirmed XI vs Barcelona: Stole Dimitrievski; Ivan Balliu, Esteban Saveljich, Alejandro Catena, Fran Garcia; Oscar Valentin, Santi Comesana; Isi Palazon, Oscar Trejo, Alvaro Garcia; Radamel Falcao.

17:45 BST: Barcelona's confirmed XI: Aguero starts

Sergio Aguero has been handed his first Barcelona start, with the Argentine leading the line against Rayo on Wednesday evening. Nico Gonzalez, meanwhile, fills in for the injured Frenkie de Jong while Philippe Coutinho replaces Ansu Fati.

Barcelona's starting XI vs Rayo: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergino Dest, Eric García, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Nico Gonazalez, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Philippe Coutinho, Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero.

16:30 BST: Aguero set to start

Sergio Aguero is expected to start his first match for Barcelona this evening against Rayo, according to Sport's Toni Juanmarti. In the last three games, Aguero had come off the bench and played a combined 34 minutes. In the middle of the park, Sergi Roberto will come in for Frenkie de Jong and play alongside Gavi and Sergio Busquets.

16:00 BST: Rayo's birthday boy

Rayo winger Alvaro Garcia is celebrating his 29th birthday today, October 27, so he will be keen to mark it with a goal against Barcelona.

15:30 BST: Bad news for Barcelona

Ansu Fati picked up a knock in El Clasico yet was named in Koeman's squad list for this evening's match against Rayo, but the 18-year-old was ruled out of the fixture on Wednesday morning due to pain in his right knee.

15:00 BST: Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona preview

Barcelona were rocked by their Clasico defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday, with Ronald Koeman on the receiving end of much of the subsequent fan ire, yet the Blaugrana have an immediate chance to redeem themselves with a LaLiga Santander clash with Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.

Los Cules will hope to get back to winning ways away from home, although Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati have all been ruled out.

Rayo Vallecano have a relatively clean bill of health heading into the match, with no real injury or suspension concerns, although their confidence took somewhat of a knock from the 3-2 defeat to Real Betis.

Early on in the season, Rayo Vallecano had been the surprise package of the campaign. Relying on the experience of summer signing Radamel Falcao, the team strung together three successive victories in September, putting them in contention for European qualification.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona predicted line-ups

Rayo Vallecano's predicted line-up: Stole Dimitrievski; Ivan Balliu, Esteban Saveljich, Alejandro Caneta, Fran Garcia; Oscar Valentin, Santi Comesana; Isi Palazon, Oscar Trejo, Alvaro Garcia; Radamel Falcao.

Barcelona's predicted line-up: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Sergino Dest, Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Gavi; Memphis, Sergio Aguero, Philippe Coutinho.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona: When does it start?

Wednesday's match between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona kicks off at 19:00 CEST, the local time in Spain. For those living in the USA you can tune in at 13:00 ET/ 10:00 PT, and for those living in the UK you can watch at 18:00 BST.

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona: Where to watch it?

The LaLiga Santander matchday 11 duel between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona will take place at Estadio de Vallecas on Wednesday, October 27. For those living in the USA you can watch the game live on ESPN+. In the UK, it'll be on LaLigaTV.

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