Rayo Vallecano wins a surprise match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano: Xavi's side lose their THIRD straight home game as Alvaro Garcia's goal gives visitors a shock victory at the Nou Camp - and leaves Real Madrid needing just ONE point to win LaLiga.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano: Xavi's side lose their THIRD straight home game as Alvaro Garcia's goal gives the visitors a shock victory at the Nou Camp - leaving Real Madrid needing just ONE point to win LaLiga.
Barcelona have now lost three consecutive home games under Xavi, and their season is threatening to end in the same way it began under Ronald Koeman – flat, ragged, uninspired, and ordinary.
This was only the second time in the club's history that they had been beaten three times in a row at home, and each defeat felt more insignificant.
At the end of the game, 11 minutes were added, which became 13 minutes when a cigarette lighter was thrown onto the field. However, as Gerard Pique stated earlier in the season, "we could have played for three hours and not scored."
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Dest (Lenglet 46), Araujo, Garcia Traore 71), Alba; Frenkie de Jong (Gonzalez 60), Busquets, Gavi; Dembele, Aubameyang (Luuk de Jong 71), Torres (Depay 60)
They are still six points off the Champions League places, but after defeats at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League and Cadiz in La Liga, this was a defeat to a team that had only won two away games all season.
Gavi collided with the ground in midfield, and there were a few sparks from Ousmane Dembele but not much else.
On seven minutes, Rayo's Alvaro Garcia scored on a diagonal run from the left wing to the center forward position. Isi Palazon recognized him, and despite the fact that Sergino Dest had followed him, he had enough time to control and shoot past Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona had lost to Rayo earlier in the season when Radamel Falcao was sent off.
Xavi was also irritated when he felt Gavi should have been given a penalty in a clash with Alejandro Catena and the coach was booked.
Rayo also assisted Barcelona's comeback when Stole Dimitrievski fed Catena in the six-yard box and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang charged him down. Dimitrievski regained his footing but skied his clearance. When the ball fell to Frenkie de Jong, he played it to Dembele, who crossed for Aubameyang, who was unable to finish.
Barcelona came within inches of scoring again just before halftime, but Ferran Torres was offside when he hooked the ball into the far corner after Gavi's shot hit the crossbar. Gavi and Dembele had ruffled at least a few Rayo feathers. Dembele ran at their defence on 45 minutes and drew a foul and a yellow card for Catena. He then fired the free-kick over the bar.
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