Madrid minnows Rayo Vallecano humbled Barcelona with a 2-1 win that pushes Barcelona's title celebrations back a few more weeks.
2022/2023 La Liga
2-1
Match Report
Barca's woes were deepened when Fran Garcia broke clear to finish after the break, and although Robert Lewandowski halved the deficit late on, the visitors were unable to find a leveller.
Boasting an 11-point lead over Madrid, Barca still appear destined to win their first league title since 2019, but the Catalan giants have dropped points in three of their last four games after another flat performance.
The first big chance fell to Rayo 17 minutes in, Sergio Camello bursting through after Pedri was caught in possession, only to be denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen when one on one.
Ter Stegen was unable to save Barca two minutes later, Alvaro Garcia drilling into the bottom-right corner after being found by Camello on the left-hand side of the area.
Stole Dimitrievski preserved Rayo's lead by smothering Lewandowski's dinked attempt, and the hosts escaped again on the stroke of half-time, as a VAR review confirmed an on-field decision to disallow the striker's left-footed finish for offside.
Barca found themselves 2-0 down seven minutes after the restart as Fran Garcia – who is set to re-join former club Real Madrid at the end of the season – raced clear to side-foot calmly under Ter Stegen.
Lewandowski ensured a nervy finish when he volleyed into the top-right corner after Ansu Fati's shot deflected into his path, but Rayo held on to claim a surprise victory.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
19' GOAL! Vallecano 1-0 Barcelona (Álvaro García)
23' Lewandowski's shot stopped by goalkeeper
36' Yellow Card! Gavi booked
41' OFFSIDE! Lewandowski’s goal disallowed
53' GOAL! Vallecano 2-0 Barcelona (Fran García)
60' Gavi's long shot stopped
61' Yellow Card! Raphinha booked
83' GOAL! Vallecano 2-1 Barcelona (Lewandowski)
Line-ups
Vallecano XI: Óscar Trejo, Lejeune, Stole Dimitrievski, Balliu, Unai López, Álvaro García, Óscar Valentín, Isi Palazón, Fran García, Alejandro Catena, Sergio Camello
Subs: Diego Lopez, Mario Suárez, Raúl de Tomás, Salvi Sánchez, José Pozo, Esteban Saveljich, Abdul Mumin, Pathé Ciss, Andrés Martín, Mario Hernández, Miguel Morro, Pep Chavarría
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Ter Stegen, Alonso, De Jong, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Kounde, Ronald Araújo, Pedri, Álex Baldé, Gavi
Subs: Alba, Kessie, Pena, Eric Garcia, Arnau Tenas, Fati, Marc Casadó, Chadi Riad, Pablo Torre, Lamine Yamal