Three key contributions from Barcelona veteran that sealed the win against Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

In Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, veteran defender Inigo Martinez was instrumental, playing a key role in all three significant moments that ultimately secured the win for his team.

Martinez’s involvement in these moments displayed his sharp focus and defensive expertise, which proved essential for the outcome of the match.

A look at the key events

The first of these moments came when Martinez was involved in winning a penalty for Barcelona. Pathe Ciss fouled him inside the box, which resulted in the only goal of the game.

The play leading up to the penalty was a well-coordinated set piece. Barcelona’s players crowded the first post to clear the ball, but Martinez made his way to the second post.

As he positioned himself, a Rayo Vallecano defender grabbed hold of him. The referee, Melero Lopez, initially missed the incident, but VAR stepped in to overturn the decision, awarding Barcelona a penalty.

The second incident

Inigo Martinez played a key role in Barcelona’s win over Rayo Vallecano. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Later in the first half, just before the break, Rayo Vallecano seemed to have scored a goal when Jorge De Frutos found the back of the net. However, the linesman flagged the goal for offside.

While De Frutos was actually onside, the goal was ruled out because Randy Nteka, who was offside, obstructed Martinez’s path. This prevented him from challenging the shot.

The confusion around the situation was due to the fact that the linesman seemed to have called offside earlier in the play. Yet, the obstruction by Nteka played a crucial role in the goal being disallowed.

The final incident

Just when it seemed Rayo Vallecano might find their way back into the game, Martinez produced another moment of brilliance.

As the clock wound down to halftime and Wojciech Szczesny was beaten, Martinez managed to clear a ball off the line, preventing an almost certain goal. This last-ditch clearance was a vital defensive action, showing Martinez’s incredible awareness and professionalism.

In all, Martinez’s contributions were invaluable to Barcelona’s three-point haul. His ability to stay concentrated and make critical interventions when needed proved crucial.