Barcelona Prepares for Rayo Vallecano Match with Rodri's Return
Barcelona were back on the grass early on Saturday, sharpening up at the Joan Gamper sports city ahead of Monday night’s league meeting with Rayo Vallecano at the Spotify Camp Nou. One key face, though, worked to a different rhythm.
Rodri, fresh from a summer that ended with him lifting the World Cup with Spain, stayed away from the main group and followed his own plan. As reported by Spanish daily Sport, he split his morning between the gym and individual work, keeping clear of the collective drills.
It is not a cause for alarm inside the club. Quite the opposite.
Rodri impressed on his Barcelona debut against Athletic Bilbao, showing enough in that first outing to underline why Hansi Flick sees him as central to his project. But since landing in Barcelona, his workload has been carefully controlled. Only a few full sessions with the squad so far, all of them measured.
The medical and physiotherapy staff have taken charge of his schedule, building him up step by step until he hits full match rhythm again. There is no rush, no panic. The belief at Barcelona is clear: physically, he is fine and ready to contribute. The timing is about conditioning, not concern.
He returned from his post-World Cup holiday only a few days ago. After a long, intense tournament and a triumphant summer, the club will not burn him out in the third round of the 2026-2027 Spanish league season.
That is why Monday against Rayo Vallecano comes with a likely compromise. Rodri is expected to be available for Flick, but a starting spot is unlikely at this stage. The idea is to drip-feed his minutes, not throw him straight into the deep end.
While Rodri worked alone, the rest of the squad went through a full session on the Tito Vilanova pitch. Training started at 9:30 in the morning, with Flick able to call on every fit first-team player.
Among them was Dominik Livaković, Barcelona’s latest signing, who completed his second training session as a Barça player. Another small step in his own adaptation, but an important one as he gets used to the demands and pace of his new surroundings.
The absences were telling. Gavi missed the workout, joining long-term casualties Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji on the sidelines. Three significant pieces of Flick’s puzzle unavailable, at least for now.
So Barcelona move towards Monday night with a near-full squad, a new goalkeeper bedding in, and a World Cup winner being eased back into the storm. The league is only just waking up, but the decisions made in these early weeks will echo deep into the season.
