Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona
La Liga 2018/19
Venue: Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas
Kick-off: 7:45pm GMT
TV/live stream: Eleven Sports
Barcelona are aiming to keep hold of top spot in La Liga as they travel to Madrid to face Rayo Vallecano this evening.
It was a case on no Lionel Messi, no problem for Barca in last weekend's 5-1 Clasico thrashing of arch-rivals Real Madrid - a victory made all the sweeter for the Spanish champions as the result cost Real coach Julen Lopetegui his job.
Barca lead the table by a point having scored an impressive 28 times in 10 games, but will have to improve away from home - starting against struggling Rayo on Saturday - having notched just five goals in four matches on the road.
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Team news
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says he will not rush Lionel Messi's return to action from a broken arm.
Messi has been practising with the rest of the squad only two weeks after breaking his right forearm, but Valverde says it's probably too early to have him back for the team's Champions League match at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Valverde says "it's only been two weeks since the injury. It's early, we'll wait. We are cautious because we want him to recover fully, without any problems."
Barcelona predicted Messi would be out for about three weeks because of the injury sustained in the game against Sevilla in the Spanish league on Oct. 20.
Barcelona has a one-point lead over Alaves at the top of the standings after 10 matches.
