Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on target as LaLiga leaders Barcelona came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1.
2018/2019 La Liga
3-1
Match Report
Rayo threatened to hand Atleti's prospects of overhauling the defending champions a boost when they opened the scoring through Raul de Tomas' fine strike.
However, Gerard Pique levelled seven minutes in the 38th minute before Lionel Messi's penalty and a late third from Luis Suarez ensured Barca still have plenty of breathing room at the summit.
Player Ratings
Match Events
24' GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Vallecano (De Tomas)
De Tomas is fed down the flank by Garcia and he takes a couple on before curling a shot right into the bottom-right corner from outside the box and past the despairing dive of Ter Stegen! It's 1-0 to the visitors!
38' GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Vallecano (Pique)
Messi swings in a free-kick from the right and Pique meets it, unmarked, at the near post to head home and restore parity! It's all square at 1-1.
51' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 2-1 Vallecano (Messi)
Messi calmly sends the keeper the wrong way and slots the ball into the bottom-right corner from the spot. The hosts are in the driving seat now, but they've been made to work for it.
51' Goal! Barcelona 3-1 Vallecano (Suarez)
Suarez makes it 3-1 to Barcelona and extends his excellent record against these opponents. Dembele fizzes the ball in and the Uruguayan plays a neat one-two with Rakitic inside the box before slotting into an empty net. He's now scored six in five games against Vallecano.
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, L. Suárez, Piqué, Vidal, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S. Umtiti, Semedo, Arthur
Subs: I. Rakitić, Jeison Murillo, S.Roberto, J. Cillessen, Carles Aleñá, O. Dembélé, Malcom
Vallecano XI: L. Advíncula, Imbula, Amat, A.Gálvez, Bebé, Raúl de Tomás, Stole Dimitrievski, Emiliano Velázquez, Álex Moreno, Álvaro García, Santi Comesaña
Subs: Mario Suárez, Ó. Trejo, Alberto García, Di Santo, Tito, José Ángel Pozo, Adri Embarba