Barcelona faced Rayo Vallecano on Monday night at the Spotify Camp Nou, revealing defensive vulnerabilities for the first time this season. Although the Catalan club clinched a comfortable 4-2 victory, they conceded twice during the match, complicating the outcome more than necessary.

Coach Hansi Flick made several rotations that evening, leading to some instability at the back.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha each found the back of the net for Barcelona, with the captain delivering another crucial performance. While there were positives to take from the game, flick has key issues to address moving forward.

Barça Universal presents the player ratings from the match.

Joan Garcia: 6.5

No clean sheet for Joan Garcia. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

Garcia saw his first goal conceded of the season early on due to Jules Kounde’s positioning, allowing Rayo Vallecano to penetrate the defense. Despite this, he remained relatively untested throughout the match and excelled in distribution and positioning.

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Xavi Espart: 8

Espart further solidified his role as Hansi Flick’s first-choice left-back, exhibiting both defensive skill and composure on the ball.

He adeptly distributed the ball and provided an impressive assist for Raphinha’s opening goal, although he struggled with marking for Rayo Vallecano’s second goal.

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Andreas Christensen: 7

Christensen partnered well with Cubarsi in defense, leveraging his intelligence to read plays effectively despite occasionally lacking pace against counters.

His defensive contributions and clear, ambitious distribution stood out throughout the match.

Pau Cubarsi: 7.5

Cubarsi commanded Barcelona’s defense with confidence, showcasing a calm demeanor and becoming a vital part of the team’s buildup situations.

He established himself as a stabilizing force at the back as he continues to embrace his growing leadership role.

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Jules Kounde: 6

Kounde struggled at times, marked as a weak link in the defense. He started his first game of the season but appeared sluggish, contributing to Rayo Vallecano’s early goal.

His close-to-half-time goal was ruled offside, which compounded his disappointing performance.

Marc Bernal: 8

Bernal showed considerable improvement, engaging actively in the buildup while displaying defensive reliability.

His distribution was commendable, as he assisted Yamal’s goal but still needs to enhance his game-reading ability.

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Pedri: 8.5

Pedri effectively controlled the game’s pace, acting as the critical link between defense and attack.

His off-the-ball work ethic complemented his ball control, with memorable shots on goal, particularly in a more advanced role later in the match.

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Dani Olmo: 7

Olmo’s movements contributed greatly to Barcelona’s attack, cultivating fluidity while assisting Raphinha.

However, his lack of direct threat on goal was evident, highlighting the absence of Fermin Lopez.

Anthony Gordon: 8

Gordon increasingly became a threat down the left flank, making numerous offensive runs, though many shots fell short of the target.

Notably, he set up Barcelona’s third goal with a precise cross, contributing assists for both Raphinha and another own goal.

Raphinha: 9.5

Raphinha is in unstoppable form. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

Raphinha opened the scoring with a standout finish, confirming his excellent form. He netted a second goal in the second half with a powerful shot after receiving a pass from Gordon, showcasing his relentless work rate off the ball and development as a striker.

Lamine Yamal: 9.5

First goal of the season for Yamal. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

Yamal returned to form against Rayo Vallecano, showcasing his talent and scoring his first goal of the season with a remarkable shot. He remained an ever-present threat, taking on defenders and delivering several crosses throughout the match, culminating in a second goal near the end with a well-placed finish.

Barcelona’s defensive frailties were exposed for the first time this season when the team took on Rayo Vallecano on Monday night at the Spotify Camp Nou.

The Catalans did indeed go on to win comfortably, but they conceded twice to make the game tighter than required at times. Hansi Flick’s rotations on the night, in that sense, brought in some instability at the back.

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Lamine Yamal and Raphinha were on the scoresheet for Barcelona in the team’s eventual 4-2 win with the captain again coming up clutch. The game brought its share of positives but also matters for Hansi Flick to ponder over and fix.

Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Barcelona 5-2 Rayo Vallecano.

Joan Garcia: 6.5

No clean sheet for Joan Garcia. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

Three match days into the league, Garcia finally conceded his first goal of the new season early in the first half after Jules Kounde’s positioning allowed Rayo Vallecano to get in behind the defence. Truth be told, there was not much the goalkeeper could have done.

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Beyond that, he was relatively untested on the night and did well in terms of his distribution, positioning and even runs outside the box.

Xavi Espart: 8

With every passing game, Espart continues to prove why he is Hansi Flick’s preferred starting left-back all of a sudden, even over Joao Cancelo.

The La Masia graduate was once again in sublime form for Barcelona, defensively astute and calm as ever in possession. 

He barely found himself struggling with the distribution, always looked for ambitious vertical passes and played a sensational pass to earn the assist for Raphinha’s opening goal. However, he marked his man poorly for Rayo Vallecano’s second goal.

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Andreas Christensen: 7

Christensen did well alongside Cubarsi in the back line, and while his lack of pace was evident at times when the opposition looked to counter, his intelligence allowed him to read the game a little bit faster than others.

The Danish footballer’s positioning and defensive contributions were promising, and his distribution was clear and even ambitious at times.

Pau Cubarsi: 7.5

Cubarsi continues to boss Barcelona’s defence with authority, and his post-World Cup confidence continues to show clearly.

He was reassured at the back, calm under pressure and an ever-reliable starting point for all of the team’s buildups. Cubarsi was the team’s leader at the back and is slowly growing into his role as the reference point in defence.

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Jules Kounde: 6

Kounde was the one loose link in Barcelona’s lineup and defence, and it was evident from the get-go that the Frenchman lacked the same pressing fire and enthusiasm as the rest of the team.

The right-back made his first start of the season and looked relatively sluggish, and it comes as no surprise that Rayo Vallecano’s early opener was made possible owing to his lapse in positioning. 

Kounde scored a goal close to half-time and had it denied for a narrow offside, taking away even the one silver lining in his performance.

Marc Bernal: 8

The youngster was far more lively on Monday than he had looked in all of the team’s games so far, and he took up part of the responsibility in the buildup.

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While he was defensively solid, it is clear that he still has a long way to go in terms of improving his interceptions and reading of the game. Bernal’s distribution and ability to retain the ball, however, were brilliant. Earned the assist for Yamal’s goal as well.

Pedri: 8.5

As always, Pedri dictated the tempo of the game and moved the ball around like clockwork, acting as the connecting piece between the defence and the attack.

His work-rate off the ball was as important as his control in possession, and he even had a couple of shots on goal which went completely off the mark. Played a more advanced role after Rodri’s entry and shifted into a more creative and less defensive presence.

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Dani Olmo: 7

Olmo’s movements between the lines created a lot of fluidity in Barcelona’s buildup, allowing Raphinha to drop back and the wingers to drift inwards as the game demanded.

His control of the ball and ability to combine in tight spaces were critical in ensuring Barcelona’s fluid attack continued, but it is safe to say that Fermin Lopez’s absence was felt.

While Olmo did play a big part, he did not offer any direct threat on goal as Lopez does, and his efforts on goal were not up to the mark at any point.

Anthony Gordon: 8

Gordon made a menace of himself on the left flank and constantly looked to make runs behind the defence to break free into spaces.

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Attempted more shots on goal than he did in the two opening games, but his low shots were either off-target or straight at the goalkeeper. Beyond that, his crosses were promising and his link-up play and work-rate off the ball were appreciable.

Completely created Barcelona’s third goal on the night with a vicious cross that was turned in for an own-goal. Racked up the assist for Raphinha’s second goal and Barcelona’s fourth as well.

Raphinha: 9.5

Raphinha is in unstoppable form. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

The captain was the one to open the scoring for Barcelona once again on the night, this time with one of his best finishes of the season. 

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Receiving Espart’s brilliant ball, the Brazilian star turned away from the defender and pulled the trigger without hesitation, putting the ball into the back of the net. Once again scored in the second half with a thunderous shot off Gordon’s assist.

Beyond that, he was again the hardest-working player off the ball, lethal with his movements and promising with his development as a natural striker.

Lamine Yamal: 9.5

First goal of the season for Yamal. (Photo credit: X/FC Barcelona)

Lamine Yamal was finally back to his usual self, enjoying his football and dancing in the final third and in the opposition box.

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The player finally joined the party on the night with a stunning goal curled into the top corner, marking his first goal of the new season. 

He was a constant attacking threat, took on defenders with ease and pumped in multiple crosses which should have been converted. Scored his second at the end of the game with another great finish in the bottom corner.