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Barcelona Edges Past Rayo Vallecano in Controversial La Liga Clash
FC Barcelona returned to the summit of La Liga, albeit on goal difference, after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys. The match, played on February 17th, was filled with controversy, leaving both teams with grievances and highlighting the intensity of the title race.
Lewandowski's Penalty Decides a Tight Contest
The only goal of the game arrived in the 27th minute, courtesy of a Robert Lewandowski penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR review deemed Rayo's Pathe Ciss to have fouled Inigo Martinez during a corner. Lewandowski, showing his usual composure, dispatched the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. However, the decision sparked outrage among Rayo players, who felt a similar shirt-pull on their own player, Abdul Mumin, earlier in the match, should have also resulted in a penalty.
Controversial Offside Decision Further Fuels Debate
The controversy continued into the second half. Rayo had a goal disallowed for offside, much to their frustration. Jorge de Frutos had finished a swift counter-attack, only for the referee to rule out the goal due to Randy Nteka's alleged offside position, even though he seemingly played no part in the goal. This contentious decision, coupled with the earlier penalty appeal, left Rayo feeling hard done by.
Rayo's Brave Performance Despite Setback
Despite the controversial calls, Rayo Vallecano delivered a spirited performance, showcasing why they arrived in Barcelona on a nine-game unbeaten run. They exhibited attacking intent throughout the match, creating several chances of their own. Wojciech Szczesny, the Barcelona goalkeeper, was called into action several times to deny Rayo's attempts, showcasing his importance to Barca's victory.
Lewandowski's Reaction and Hansi Flick's Response
Robert Lewandowski, while scoring the decisive penalty, showed his frustration after being substituted in the 81st minute. He exchanged words with manager Hansi Flick, a reaction the manager explained post-match. Flick stated, "It's normal for Lewandowski to get upset with the substitution because he wants to score goals, but the decision is mine. I make changes when I see fit, and they have to accept it." Lewandowski's impressive stats for the match (13/20 passes completed, four shots attempted) underline his continued excellent form this season, where he's scored 32 goals across all competitions.
Post-Match Analysis and What's Next
Hansi Flick praised Rayo’s performance, acknowledging the difficulty of the game. He highlighted Barcelona's dominance in possession (60%) and their 14 attempts on goal, compared to Rayo's nine. The win propelled Barcelona to the top of the La Liga table, level on points with Real Madrid but ahead on goal difference. Their next challenge is an away fixture against Las Palmas on February 22nd. This victory underlines Barcelona's resilience and determination in a thrilling La Liga title race.
