Mueez Ajao
– Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday thanks to goals in each half from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia.
– With seven games to play, Barca are top of the league on 76 points, 11 ahead second-placed Real Madrid, who were also stunned 4-2 at lowly Girona on Tuesday. Rayo Vallecano are ninth on 43 points, four adrift of the European qualification spots.
– Rayo halted Barca’s seven game unbeaten streak in the league with a gutsy performance in front of their fans at a sold-out Estadio de Vallecas.
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– They were the better side for most of the match against a slapdash Barca and opened the scoring in 19th minute after Sergio Camello challenged Gavi and quickly fed Alvaro Garcia who riffled an unstoppable low shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
– Rayo got back on top in the second half and extended their lead in the 52nd minute thanks to a great effort from Fran Garcia, who stole the ball from Frenkie de Jong in midfield and ran through the heart of the Barca defence to score with a tidy finish past Ter Stegen.
– Barca cut the deficit through Robert Lewandowski, who latched on to a loose ball inside the box and drilled it into the net in the 83rd minute.
FT: #RayoBarça 2-1
𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞-𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜̧𝐚!#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/368RagAF4s
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 26, 2023
