Barcelona take the lead from the penalty spot | OneFootball

Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona wanted to continue their great run of form and results in LaLiga EASports and consolidate their position. They were looking to do so at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic by hosting Rayo Vallecano, who were in the best form of their season. The fact is that the Catalans were in enviable form, especially in attack, and had closed the gap to the leaders to such an extent that, if they won, they would be top of the league. For their part, the Vallecano team were in European positions when they came to the Catalans’ fiefdom. Both teams had won three consecutive games and were looking to add to that total.

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If there was one thing the Catalan team knew for sure, it was that they needed the win to close the gap, draw level on points with Real Madrid and take over at the top of the Primera División. And that’s exactly what they did. Hansi Flick’s team did their homework without making a big fuss, but a goal from the penalty spot was enough to beat Rayo and become the new leaders.

Hansi Flick’s Barça started well positioned as well as being very aggressive. If they lost the ball, they recovered it within a few seconds. In the early stages of the game, their forwards were already causing problems with an early attempt by Lamine and shortly afterwards a cross from Raphinha that Lewandowski headed wide. Rayo also had their chances, but in the early stages of the game there was no opportunity to open the scoring.

As the minutes went by it was clear that FC Barcelona were amassing more possession, but in a sterile zone. The first clear chance would not come until the 19th minute for Raphinha. De Frutos’s failure to pass to Batalla allowed Balde to get there before the ball crossed the baseline, and he put a pass back to Raphinha who crossed his shot too much. Almost immediately afterwards, the home side gave Batalla a hard time with a pass from Pedri to Raphinha that left him alone against Batalla, but the Argentine repelled the one-on-one. The rebound passed close to Lewandowski, but the Pole didn’t take advantage of it.

Barça take the lead from the penalty spot

In one move of the game, Barça asked for a penalty for a possible grab by Ciss on Iñigo Martínez in the attempt to take a corner kick. Melero López went to the VAR and pointed to a maximum penalty that the top scorer Lewandowski did not forgive. He adjusted it to perfection, so much so that it hit the post before going into the goal of Batalla who dived to the other side.

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A battle that had no time to lament as he had to make a double save to Lamine Yamal’s attempts. Especially the first one, point-blank after a rude mistake by Ratiu. And from one area to another because Rayo also asked for a penalty on Álvaro, after a shot repelled by Sczcesny. It didn’t seem enough and so the referee considered it and did not signal anything.

Rayo’s goal disallowed

Before the break, Rayo managed to get a goal but the equalizer did not make it onto the scoreboard. De Frutos scored and it was disallowed for offside which, in the image, was not at all clear. De Frutos was not offside but NTeka was, interfering with the play. With Barça ahead on the scoreboard and as provisional leaders, the half-time whistle blew in Montjuic.

Rayo came out for the second half with a different attitude. Pressing high up the pitch and forcing Barça to play long. However, as the minutes went by, the Catalans gradually began to shut Rayo down again. All under the command of Pedri. In the 66th minute De Frutos had a chance. Álvaro was quick to stop him getting away on the wing, and his low cross was finished off at the near post by De Frutos, but the Barça goalkeeper saved it with two touches.

From the penalty spot to the top of the table

The minutes passed without much excitement at Montjuic as Barça moved closer to the top of the table. Neither Szczesny nor Batalla had much work to do in the second half. There were no big chances and time was running out at Montjuic. At least until the last minute of regulation time when Rayo went for it. Embarba got into space and the cross was headed in by the unmarked but very forced De Frutos. It didn’t hit the target. The score remained unchanged and Barça moved into the lead, drawing level on points with Real Madrid.