Barcelona player ratings vs Rayo Vallecano: Pedri poor and Oriol Romeu crumbles as pressure grows on Xavi despite salvaging late draw
The Blaugrana never controlled the contest, and could find themselves six points off the top in La Liga by Monday night
A late Rayo Vallecano own goal redeemed an otherwise miserable Barcelona performance, as the reigning La Liga champions dropped points in the title race yet again on Saturday. A deserved first-half goal from Unai Lopez gave Rayo the lead, before an 82nd-minute blunder from Florian Lejeune saw Barca snatch a 1-1 draw that they did little to deserve.
Rayo almost took the lead early on, when a Frenkie de Jong mistake handed the home side a clear chance, but goalkeeper Inaki Pena — in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen — kept it out. Barca offered glimpses of a response, as most of them came through Lamine Yamal, who deserved a goal after a fine solo run.
The home side were good value for their opener as Lopez unleashed a fine strike from long range after the Blaugrana failed to clear a Rayo set piece. Barca offered more attacking thrust in the second half, though, as Ferran Torres put a good chance right at the goalkeeper, Pedri nodded one narrowly over the bar and Raphinha rattled the post after coming on.
The Barcelona equaliser wasn't particularly deserved, though, as Lejeune somewhat unfortunately diverted a cross into his own net. Xavi's side have now dropped points in three of their last four contests, and can already see their hopes of defending the title slipping away.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Vallecas...
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