Barcelona struggle to overcome Rayo Vallecano as Araujo scores first-half decider

Just 50 seconds into the match, Joan García had to make a stop from Carlos Martín's shot as Rayo exploited Barcelona's high defensive line on their opening move, and the home team did not manage their first on-target attempt until 10 minutes later, a feeble strike by Gerard Martín that Augusto Batalla collected with ease.

Raphinha inexplicably sent his effort wide after stealing possession in the middle of the pitch and getting ahead of Pathé Ciss, while the away side crammed the central zone and aimed for rapid transitions at every chance.

Barcelona kept searching for the breakthrough, and on the 24th minute, a superb delivery from João Cancelo's corner picked out Ronald Araújo at the back post, where his firm header put the hosts ahead.

The score nearly doubled shortly afterwards, though Batalla managed to deflect Raphinha's thunderous shot onto the bar while Barcelona sustained their pressure. Uneven passages of play emerged from both teams, with multiple free kicks halting the momentum. Even with Barcelona holding the upper hand when the half-time break arrived, they had seldom seemed poised to build on Araújo's strike.

Rayo caught the offside trap again merely three minutes after the interval, but Fran Pérez's pass ended up straight in García's hands.

As the game neared the 60-minute point, Barcelona ramped up their intensity once more, squandering a few promising openings. The visitors pushed close to tying it up when Álvaro García unleashed a powerful left-footed drive that his opposite number saved convincingly, and the keeper then miraculously tipped Unai López's header clear while airborne.

Barcelona's disjointed style prompted jeers from the Camp Nou supporters, and anxiety gripped the home fans when four Rayo players sliced through the lines yet again. Thankfully for the Catalans, Pacha Espinó blazed his attempt over the bar.

Barcelona displayed scant attacking ambition in the dying moments, yet they clung on to claim their 15th consecutive LaLiga triumph at Camp Nou. This setback for Rayo prolongs their woeful recent record on the road (D3, L6).