For the first time since 1998, Barcelona have lost three consecutive home games as they were defeated 1-0 by Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou. Álvaro García’s first-half goal saw Rayo complete the double over ‘Blaugrana’ for the first time ever.
Barcelona were looking good for second place in La Liga coming into the game despite a defeat to Cádiz during the week. Rayo Vallecano needed to keep looking over their shoulders to avoid getting into a relegation scrap despite a brilliant start to the season. The second half of the season had been a poor one by the team from Madrid. After a tepid start, Rayo shocked the Camp Nou when Álvaro García whipped a shot past Barça goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegan to give ‘Los Franjirrojos’ a surprising lead after just seven minutes.
The home side started to increase the tempo about midway through the first half, with Rayo relying on counter-attacks. Boos and whistles rang out from the home support when passes went astray, however Jordi Alba raised hopes when he tested Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, which the Macedonian was equal to. Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé was the one player in the first half that was looking to create for Xavi’s team. Just before HT, Gavi hit the crossbar with a lovely curling effort as Barça almost levelled.
Barcelona were forced into a change at the break as Sergiño Dest was replaced by Clément Lenglet. Ten minutes into the second half, former Barça player Sergi Guardiola came on for Rayo replacing Randy Nteka. Alba again went close for the home side, but again failed to hit the target. Xavi introduced attackers Luuk de Jong and Adama Traoré with just under 20 minutes to go, as he needed a spark from his forward line. The chances started to arrive in flurries for the home side as Ronald Araújo placed a header wide from a whipped in cross while Memphis Depay’s rocket shot was saved by Dimitrievski.
In a chaotic scene towards the end of the game, a member of the Rayo coaching staff was sent off while the visitors were trying to make a substitution. 11 minutes were added on for injury time which wasn’t enough for Barça to stop Rayo’s victory for only the second time at the Camp Nou in 22 years.
