Barcelona edged past Rayo Vallecano with a narrow 1-0 victory at Montjuïc, thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s clinical penalty, which came after a contentious VAR decision. The Polish striker converted from the spot following a foul by Pathé Ciss on Iñigo Martínez, bringing Rayo’s impressive nine-match unbeaten run to an end.
Despite trailing, Rayo mounted a determined response, forcing goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny into action before the break. Barcelona, however, struggled to extend their lead, squandering several promising chances, notably through Lewandowski and Raphinha. In a late twist, Rayo came close to equalizing when Jorge de Frutos failed to capitalize on a prime opportunity set up by Adrián Embarba.
With this hard-fought win, Hansi Flick’s team sits atop the La Liga standings, level on 51 points with arch-rivals Real Madrid but edging ahead on goal difference. Atlético Madrid remains close behind, ensuring the title race stays intense.
