Following Barcelona’s 1-0 win of Rayo Vallecano, they have now returned to the top of La Liga table for the first time this year. Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty was enough for Barcelona to go top of the table on goal difference.
Remember Real Madrid played a 1-1 draw after Jude Bellingham was shown a red card and Atletico Madrid also played a 1-1 draw on Saturday as well. The Poland striker rolled his spot-kick in off the post his 20th league goal of the season.
The penalty came after Barca was a video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed on a foul done by Rayo Vallecano player. Their midfielder Pathe Ciss was penalised for pulling down Inigo Martinez in the box, though the Barcelona centre-back was never close to getting to the ball.
Rayo Vallecano were incensed when they were denied a penalty following a similar incident, this time Ciss going to ground. The controversy continued as Rayo thought they had equalised when Jorge de Frutos latched on to a through ball and finished past Wojciech Szczesny, but the striker Randy Nteka was offside.
Barcelona spurned several chances to score in the second half, and were fortunate not to concede a late equaliser when De Frutos headed over following a Rayo counter-attack. Hansi Flick’s side go top of the table with 51 points, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, and one point above Atletico, with 14 games left to play.
