Barca ready to deflate Rayo

Rayo's open style of play means they tend to lose heavily against the Catalan giants and Phil Kitromilides expects more of the same in tomorrow's early Primera Division game.

In a recent interview with Uefa, Rayo manager Paco Jemez explained why draws were not useful for teams battling relegation.

The coach's logic was a simple cost/benefit analysis suggesting that the value gained from three points far outweighed the negative impact of a defeat and the Vallecanos' record this season is a testament to Jemez's ideology. 

No side has lost more matches than Rayo in the Spanish top flight (14) yet their nine wins and only two draws mean that they sit seven points above the drop zone. These facts serve to underline the fact that the side from Madrid will approach their trip to Camp Nou in a slightly different fashion from most visitors.

While Barca usually have to try and break down sides who come to defend desperately dreaming of a draw, Rayo should present a different proposition. Jemez's men often enjoy large swathes of possession even against the division's top teams but that does not usually translate itself into victories.

Since Rayo came back up to La Liga, they have played Barcelona seven times, with the Catalans winning all seven encounters, scoring 31 goals in the process and conceding just once.