Barcelona have not progressed beyond a draw in the first game of the new LaLiga season. Rayo Vallecano, who even had the best chances at Camp Nou, kept trainer Xavi’s formation at 0-0. Frenkie de Jong came in in the second half and Memphis Depay, whose attacking impulses might have triggered something, remained on the bench for the entire game.
For the Dutch football followers, the line-up that Xavi came up with was a disappointing one. De Jong and Depay had to settle for a place on the reserve bench and saw that others took their place in the base. In midfield there were starting spots for Busquets, Pedri and Gavi, while the vanguard was formed by Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembélé. The last three still had to be registered, but we succeeded. Sergiño Dest was not in the selection.
The first half was very mediocre, especially from the Barcelona side. Xavi’s team had most of the ball, but could not create many opportunities with it and saw that the visitors from Vallecas had the greatest chance for half-time. It was due to a lack of insight on the part of Álvaro García that there was no goal, because if he had passed the ball it would in all probability have been 0-1.
The same situation arose five minutes after the break. Rayo again broke out dangerously and this time it was striker Sergio Camello who forgot to pass the ball and went for his own success, not making a sure goal. After an hour, Frenkie de Jong joined the team at Barça, at a time when there was still barely anything created. In minute 65 the opportunity came through Ansu Fati, who saw his hard effort turned back by Stole Dimitrievski. De Jong was involved in the build-up to that opportunity and was an excellent substitute in any case.
Rayo’s keeper had to intervene less often in the final phase than he might have expected beforehand. Barcelona didn’t get enough offensive impulses and only five minutes before the end there were really great opportunities. Dimitrievski had been beaten after a bet from Aubameyang, but saw defender Catena had a crucial intervention on the line to keep a clean sheet. Moments later, a goal by Franck Kessié was also disallowed.
From the moment Sergio Busquets was shown his second yellow card in injury time, Barca were unable to make a fist. The Catalans even got away with it when a goal by Radamel Falcao was disallowed for offside and avoided an embarrassing defeat. However, a 0-0 at home is not what people had expected in Camp Nou, so after the last whistle there was a stinging whistle concert.