After thumping Ajax in the Champions League, Lionel Messi and Barcelona will look to maintain their perfect record in La Liga when they visit Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Messi was at his usual best against Ajax, scoring three delightful goals to complete his fourth Champions League hat-trick.

The little Argentine was also on hand to inspire Barcelona to a late late win against Sevilla last weekend, which kept their 100 percent record intact, and against Vallecano Barca are again expected to pick up all three points.

Rayo Vallecano have not made the best of starts to their season in the La Liga and are currently in the bottom three having picked up just three points from four matches.

The last team they would have wanted to meet would have been Barcelona, but in a way they will also be glad to get the match out of the way - be it with a loss or even a season-defining win.

"We know it'll be a hard game because Rayo is a team that attacks and takes risks," Barca assistant coach Jorge Pautasso said. "It'll be a wide open match but we hope to make the difference."

New manager Gerardo Martino has picked up from where the other have left off in keeping Barcelona dominant on all fronts and Pautasso, speaking on behalf of Martino who is in Argentina attending his father's funeral, insisted the new management have no plans to change Barca's trademark tiki taka attacking style.

"We will never betray the style of Barcelona," the 51-year-old said. "We came to add, not take away from what they did well for Barcelona in the last year. What we want is to incorporate high pressure.

"In general, those who have lived and played in football knows that everyone has an opinion that is respectable, it important to have a good debate and things that arise are logical.

"Overall our relationship with the people who were at the club before our arrival is really excellent, we share every day, we learn, we collect and transmit to the players."

Team News: Sergio Busquets has been rested, while Gerard Pique is a doubt for the game. Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba, Isaac Cuenca and Ibrahim Afellay are definitely ruled out.

For Rayo, Lass Bangoura is still while Nery Castillo is a doubt. Iago Falque and Jose Carlos are long-term absentees.

Where to watch

The match is scheduled for a 11.30 p.m. (IST) kickoff with the game set for Live telecast on Star Sports 2. You can watch the game online with the official link HERE. 

Expected lineups: Rayo Vallecano: Ruben; Tito, Galvez, Galeano, Nacho; Viera, Trashorras, Saul, Bueno; Fernandez, Larrivey.

Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano; Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta; Sanchez, Messi, Neymar.

Prediction: 4-0 to Barcelona