La Liga Tips: Raphinha to star for Barcelona in Rayo clash | OneFootball

Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Sun, 18:00

It's been another bizarre week in Barcelona to say the least. Less than a month after the club announced Xavi would not, after all, be leaving his job at the end of the season and would be staying on, significant doubts about his future are now being raised once more.

Reports in Spain are suggesting President Joan Laporta - who shed tears at the press conference announcing Xavi would stay a matter of weeks ago - is no longer convinced that it's way forward for the club, and is particularly unhappy with recent comments made by the coach referencing the difficulties that lie ahead for Barcelona.

With all of that going on in the background, their final home game of the campaign - which surely won't be breaking any attendance records - seems an unpredictable spectacle from here. Against the inevitably lax atmosphere and it being one of those end-of-season games where both sides will be pretty free-spirited in attack, goals seem the best bet at this point.

Barcelona's home fixtures in La Liga this season have averaged 3.4 goals per game, and the energetic Rayo Vallecano won't come with intentions of merely closing the game down. Inigo Perez will want his team on the front foot and looking to disrupt, which is also usually the terrain in which Raphinha has come to the fore for the Catalans this season.

After getting a rest away at Almeria in midweek, he should return to the XI here and be one of the big factors in the match for the home side. The Brazilian averages more shots per 90 than anyone else for the club in La Liga this season (4), and will be on the hunt for a few more goal involvements before the season is out.

Along with the tips from Barcelona's perspective, I'll also add 2+ fouls for Rayo midfielder Unai Lopez. He averages 2.7 fouls per 90 in La Liga this season, and should be one of those entrusted to add the bite and intensity for the visitors in midfield here.

Villarreal v Real Madrid - Sun, 18:00

There may be a few teams already on the beach in LaLiga, but these two certainly aren't among them. While Real Madrid are trying to remain sharp and arrive to their Champions League final date in good shape, Villarreal are competing just about as well as anyone besides Carlo Ancelotti's side at present.

Following their 1-0 away victory at Girona last time out - something only they and Real Madrid have done this season - Villarreal find themselves positively surging towards the end of the campaign and laying the foundations to compete for the Champions League again next term. In fact, since February 23rd, the only team who have won more points in La Liga than Villarreal (25) are their next opponents Real Madrid (31).

The case for Carlo Ancelotti's side here is, of course, a pretty easy one to make. They're unbeaten in their last 30 games in La Liga and have won the last nine in a row, with los Blancos showing all season long they've been a level above everyone else.

However, Real Madrid did rotate in the majority of their big guns against Alaves in midweek, so there's perhaps a case for a good few of those to go back to the bench in their second game of the week. With the title already in the bag and a European final on the horizon, there's no need for Ancelotti to run any risks he might otherwise have had to consider.

With the possibility Real Madrid aren't quite at full strength here, home advantage could be an equaliser for a Villarreal side who are already playing fantastically well at this stage of the season. In their final home game of the campaign, I'll back Marcelino's men to produce a solid display and avoid defeat against LaLiga's best.

Mallorca v Almería - Sun, 18:00

A win here for Mallorca will keep them in La Liga for another season, and close the door completely on Cadiz's attempt at a great escape. The islanders could well be safe by Sunday night no matter what happens in their game, but they'll be kicking off at Son Moix with determination to take care of their own business.

Indeed, Mallorca won't be short on inspiration or reasons to compete here. Sunday's game seems likely to be Javier Aguirre's final home match in charge of the club, capping off a spell in which the Mexican has truly captured hearts at the club. Along with their probable survival, they were just a penalty shootout away from winning a trophy in the Copa del Rey this season.

As for opponents Almeria, they've been a touch more respectable under Pepe Mel at the back end of this season, but will still be looking forward to calling time on 2023-24. The best the Andalusian side can hope for at this point is to go down without finishing rock bottom (currently four points behind 19th-place Granada).

Almería's demise this season has had a lot to do with their fragile defence, and in particular how poorly they've defended their box. With a constantly rotating cast of players making up the back line, time simply ran out on their survival chances before it could be solved.

Against a Mallorca side who play a front-foot style at Son Moix and will ask plenty of questions of the visitors with their direct attack, I'll take Aguirre to sign off with a victory in a spirited display by the hosts here. Their victories generally come by fine margins, however, with all seven of their victories in La Liga this term coming by a single goal.

Get tips for the rest of this week's Football from our roster of expert tipsters!

Football... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.