La Liga: Barcelona Moves to Summit with Controversial Penalty Victory Over Rayo Vallecano
In a weekend marked by controversy, Barcelona ascended to the top of La Liga thanks to a penalty converted by Robert Lewandowski, while Rayo Vallecano’s impressive nine-game unbeaten streak came to an end. Despite the loss, Rayo put up a fierce fight, keeping the hosts on edge throughout the match.
The first half began at a measured pace, but it soon intensified as Rayo adopted an aggressive defensive stance, quickly transitioning the ball when they regained possession. Barcelona initially created more scoring opportunities, with Raphinha coming close twice—first hitting the post and then forcing a brilliant save from Rayo’s goalkeeper, Augusto Batalla.
The game’s turning point arrived in the 28th minute when Pathe Ciss fouled Inigo Martinez during a corner. After a VAR review, the penalty was awarded, and Lewandowski made no mistake, firing his shot off the post and into the net. Rayo felt aggrieved, having seen a foul on Pau Cubarsi go unpunished during another corner.
However, the goal seemed to embolden Rayo, who responded with renewed confidence, creating several chances of their own. Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny came up with a spectacular save just before halftime, thwarting a powerful effort from Rayo. A potential equalizer from Jorge de Frutos was ruled out due to an offside call on Randy Nteka, who interfered with the play.
The second half saw a slight decrease in tempo but not in Rayo’s determination. Martinez emerged as a key figure in Barcelona’s defense, making crucial interventions to stifle Rayo’s advances. Despite Barcelona’s attempts to extend their lead, Lewandowski was unable to convert a well-crafted opportunity from Pedri, and Raphinha sent another chance soaring over the bar.
As the match approached its conclusion, both teams struggled to find clear openings, creating an atmosphere of tension at Montjuic Stadium. In the dying moments, Rayo almost snatched a dramatic equalizer when Adrian Embarba broke free of the offside trap. His cross found de Frutos, but the former Real Madrid player couldn’t direct his header on target, and the ball sailed wide.
Barcelona managed to escape with a narrow victory, a result that reflects their recent turnaround, as matches that once slipped away are now turning into valuable points. Hansi Flick’s side will be pleased with their resilience, particularly from Pedri and the steadfast Martinez.
Meanwhile, Rayo will lament their lack of finishing quality but can take pride in their performance. They currently sit sixth in the league, just one point ahead of Mallorca, while Barcelona joins Real Madrid at the top with 51 points, one ahead of Atletico Madrid.
