Trashorras bids tomake old club ‘suffer’

BARCELONA v RAYO VALLECANO

(Today, 6.55pm, Singtel TV Ch 114 & StarHub TV Ch 208)

Rayo Vallecano midfielder Roberto Trashorras is refusing to be daunted by today’s trip to the Nou Camp and is determined to make Barcelona “suffer” in front of their fans.

Barca have lost only six La Liga games on their own turf in the last six years, but some of those defeats have come against teams who would have been rank underdogs.

And it is the victories of sides such as Osasuna, Hercules, Celta Vigo and Malaga - who Barca lost to in their last home outing on Feb 21 - that has given Trashorras added hope going into this weekend’s clash against one of his old clubs.

The 34-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Barca but failed to establish himself in the first team before leaving in 2003, said: “I’m imagining a great game by Rayo, inwhichwe have plenty of possession andwemake Barcelona suffer. Obviously, that’s easier said than done.

“It’s crucial to plan a brave game, playing with a lot of intensity, where they aren’t comfortable, wherewe have asmuch possession as possible and that they suffer.”

He added: “It’s a lovely game, one of the best of the season, against the best players in the world, and we have the chance to show that we’re a good team and that we can compete.

“In football, anything can happen. There are teams who nobody thought were going to get a positive result at the Nou Camp and we’re not going to give up.”

Rayo go into the weekend in 11th spot in La Liga, havingwon two of their last three games to move seven points clear of the relegation places. Second-placed Barca also go into the match on a high after reaching the final of the Copa del Rey in midweek by beating Villarreal 6-2 on aggregate.

Luis Enrique’s men have also managed to defeat Manchester City away in the Champions League and beat Granada in La Liga since the loss to Malaga, and young midfielder Rafinha is looking for more of the same.

He said: “We’ve been getting better and better. There haven’t been any big changes.We just feel better with each game we play.”