Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Barcelona: Leaders stunned as hosts inflict third La Liga defeat of the season on Barca

Rayo Vallecano stunned La Liga leaders Barcelona, winning 2-1 with goals from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia to stall Barca’s march to the title.

Rayo’s pressing caused Barcelona problems all night and led to the first goal as Gavi was dispossessed in a vulnerable area. Sergio Camello unselfishly passed to Alvaro Garcia and his low, well-hit shot was too good for the goalkeeper.

La Liga’s leading scorer Robert Lewandowski had Barca’s best chance of the first half but his dink did not clear Stole Dimitrievski, while a later Lewandowski goal was disallowed for offside.

Fran Garcia doubled the lead shortly after the break when his reward for winning a 50-50 with Frenkie de Jong was a clean run at goal and the soon-to-be Real Madrid player cooly found the bottom corner.

Barcelona did pull a goal back in the closing stages when a blocked shot fell into Lewandowski’s path and the Pole instinctively lashed past Dimitrievski, but they never came close to finding an equaliser.

Barcelona remain 11 points clear at the summit on a total of 76. Rayo climb to ninth, with 43 points, and are just three off seventh and a potential European berth.

TALKING POINT – Rayo continue to be a thorn in Barca’s side

Rayo are now undefeated in their last four games against Barcelona, winning three. After doing the double over the Catalan giants last season, Vallecano have demonstrated it was no fluke and Xavi Hernandez has run into similar problems to those Ronald Koeman experienced last term.

Rayo’s aggressive pressing paid off – the goals were not the only chances created off the back of winning the ball high up the pitch – and defensively they limited the visitors to few clear chances. It seems unlikely this result will have much bearing on the La Liga title race, but other sides will be paying close attention to Rayo’s recipe for success against Barcelona.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Isi Palazon (Rayo Vallecano)

It was a team effort from Rayo but Palazon was among the standouts, with some silky touches accompanying hard work off the ball.

PLAYER RATINGS

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski 7, Balliu 7, Lejeune 7, Catena 6, Fran Garcia 8, Palazon 8, Lopez 6, Valentin 6, Alvaro Garcia 7, Trejo 6, Camello 7. Subs: Ciss 6, Sanchez 6, Chavarria 6, de Tomas n/a, Martin n/a.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 5, Kounde 5, Araujo 6, Alonso 4, Balde 5, de Jong 6, Pedri 5, Gavi 5, Raphina 5, Torres 4, Lewandowski 6. Subs: Fati 5, Alba 5, Kessie 6, Torre 5, Garcia 5.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

17′ CAMELLO DENIED! Pedri is robbed of possession in midfield and the ball runs to Camello, who carries it forward before shooting low to ter Stegen’s left, but the goalkeeper makes a good save.

19′ GOAL! Rayo 1-0 Barcelona (A Garcia): Gavi is robbed and Rayo move the ball to Camello, who shapes to shoot but instead passes to Alvaro Garcia, who does then shoot, low and across the goalkeeper, to give the hosts the lead.

23′ CHANCE! A Barcelona counter-attack sees the ball worked to Lewandowski, who from a tight angle looks to lift the ball over Dimitrievski but cannot.

53′ GOAL! Rayo 2-0 Barcelona (F Garcia): Fran Garcia wins a 50-50 with de Jong, is suddenly through on goal and calmly slots home.

83′ GOAL! Rayo 2-1 Barcelona (Lewandowski): Kessie’s long-range shot is blocked but bounces into the path of Lewandowski, who lashes home.

KEY STAT

• Rayo manager Andoni Iraola is unbeaten in four league meetings with Barcelona, winning three and seeing his side concede just one goal.