Goals on the agenda as Barcelona visit Vallecas

Spanish football giants FC Barcelona travel to Rayo Vallecano's Vallecas Stadium Saturday for what promises to be a game filled with goals.

Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season when they fell 2-3 away to Paris Saint Germain Tuesday in the Champions League as defensive and goal-keeping errors cost them dear, reports Xinhua.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will almost certainly bring Claudio Bravo back in goal for the trip to Vallecas while players such as Adriano could get their chance at the back after performing well last weekend as Barcelona hammered Granada 6-0.

Midfielder Xavi Hernandez and striker Lionel Messi have both been in the news in the past days with veteran midfielder Xavi commenting that he is not willing to settle for a place on the substitutes bench and that he will fight for a place in the starting 11 while Messi insisted that he did not see himself in competition with Cristiano Ronaldo and that all he wants is to see Barcelona win games and trophies.

Xavi could have a chance of starting against Rayo as Enrique will look to exploit any gaps in the Rayo defence.

His opposite number Paco Jemez has a refreshing attitude to the game, believing that the best way to win matches is to score one goal more than his rivals, rather than concede one goal less.

Although that may add up in mathematical terms to the same thing, in footballing terms, it means that Rayo look to attack their rivals rather than sit back and defend in numbers.

When it works it is exciting to watch and when it fails, it also provides entertainment as Rayo have conceded a hatful of goals in recent meetings against Barcelona, who have the pace and the skill to pick holes in an open defence.

Nevertheless, Jemez's men have won their last two matches and in Leo Baptistao and Gael Kakuta they have two forwards with pace and penetration, who will give Barcelona's defence problems.

The only problem for Rayo is that they will be facing Neymar, Messi and either Munir or Pedro Rodriguez. It's going to be exciting and Barcelona are favourites but Rayo have the firepower and the attitude to provide a classic in front of their passionate home fans.