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La Liga | Gameweek 27
Mar 9, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
Rayo Vallecano logo

3-1

Pique (38'), Messi (51' pen.), Suarez (82')
FT(HT: 1-1)
de Tomas (24')

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi's sensational record vs. Rayo Vallecano

Ahead of Barcelona's match against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, Sports Mole looks at Lionel Messi's incredible record in the fixture, including back-to-back hat-tricks.

Barcelona will return to Camp Nou for the first time in almost a month on Saturday when they host Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Victory would see the reigning champions take another step towards retaining their title, having poured more misery on Real Madrid with a second Clasico victory at the Bernabeu in the space of four days last time out.

That result left the Catalan giants 12 points clear of their fiercest rivals, although Atletico Madrid remain in contention with seven points separating them from the leaders.

Lionel Messi was unable to extend his Clasico scoring record last weekend, but he has been in typically scintillating form again this season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has fared against Saturday's opponents in the past.



LMvRAY

It is nothing new for Messi to boast a superb record against any particular opposition, but his one against Rayo is something special even for him.

In just nine meetings, Messi has scored an incredible 16 goals - just short of two per game on average - in addition to registering a further six assists.

Indeed, the Argentine has only failed to score in one of those nine games against Saturday's opponents, and even then he still produced an assist in a 4-0 away win.

This weekend will be Messi's first game against Rayo since March 2016 after he missed the reverse fixture through injury, but on that occasion three years ago he helped himself to a hat-trick.

In fact, Messi has taken the matchball home in his last two meetings with Rayo and has nine goals in his last four such games.

At Camp Nou, the La Liga top scorer has eight goals in four previous meetings, and unsurprisingly he has ended up on the winning side every time he has faced them home or away.

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts angrily to a challenge from Sergio Ramos during the Clasico with Real Madrid on March 2, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid37297187266194
2Barcelona37257577433482
3GironaGirona37246778463278
4Atletico MadridAtletico372341068432573
5Athletic Bilbao371811860372365
6Real Sociedad371612951371460
7Real BetisBetis37141494845356
8Villarreal371410136464052
9Valencia37139153843-548
10AlavesAlaves37129163545-1045
11Osasuna37128174455-1144
12Getafe371013144152-1143
13Sevilla371011164752-541
14Celta Vigo371010174455-1140
15Las PalmasLas Palmas37109183246-1439
16Rayo Vallecano37814152947-1838
17Mallorca37716143143-1237
RCadizCadiz37615162549-2433
RGranada3749243872-3421
RAlmeria37212233774-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
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