Barca wobble again with loss to Rayo

Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, handing Real Madrid the chance to win La Liga if they draw at home to Espanyol next weekend.

Barca’s place in the top four is still not secure either after a third consecutive defeat at Camp Nou continued their late-season wobble and saw them squander the chance to pull away in the race for Champions League qualification.

Madrid remain 15 points clear with five games left to play and Carlo Ancelotti’s side know they will be uncatchable if they take just a point from Espanyol on Saturday.

Barca should still have enough for the top four given they sit six points clear of Real Betis in fifth, but winning this game in hand against Rayo would certainly have made it more comfortable.

“There are games that get complicated because we don’t start how we should,” said Xavi. “It’s a shame because it was a golden opportunity.”

Instead, their form will be a real concern for coach Xavi, whose team have now won only twice in their last six matches. Missing out on the UCL would be unthinkable for Barcelona. 

Rayo took the lead in the seventh minute when Isi Palazon danced through Barcelona’s midfield and spotted the curving run of Alvaro Garcia, who had dashed inside from the left.

Sergino Dest was too slow to react and Garcia struck quickly, controlling with his left and firing in with his right, giving Marc-Andre ter Stegen no chance to adjust.

Gavi looked to have a decent claim for a penalty in the 89th minute when Alejandro Catena barged into the back of the youngster in the box - but neither the referee nor VAR were convinced.

With 11 minutes of added time, Barca kept coming, and Dembele saw another effort cleared off the line by Catena. Rayo held on for a sensational victory.