Rayo Vallecano surprised La Liga chief Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-1 win, outplaying the Catalans at a rowdy Vallecas.
Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia struck to earn the hosts a memorable victory, with Robert Lewandowski pulling one again late on for Barca.
Xavi Hernandez’s aspect stay 11 factors away from second-placed Real Madrid with seven matches remaining.
After champion Madrid misplaced at Girona on Tuesday its hopes of defending the title are nearly over, regardless of Barcelona following go well with with a deserved defeat within the capital.
Xavi’s aspect has gained simply considered one of its final 4 league matches — a slender overcome Atletico Madrid on Sunday — because it limps in the direction of the end line and a primary title since 2019.
Barcelona’s coach urged his gamers to be cautious of Rayo’s risk earlier than the sport, however they didn’t heed his warning. The Catalans haven’t overwhelmed the Madrid membership of their final 4 league conferences.
Xavi was with out suspended captain Sergio Busquets however handed Pedri his first begin since he was injured in February.
Frenkie de Jong began because the lone defensive midfielder and endured a torrid night time, though the identical was true for many of his teammates too.
Sergio Camello might need put Rayo in entrance early on after a Pedri mistake, however Marc-Andre ter Stegen made save to disclaim the on-loan Atletico ahead.
However, Rayo quickly did break the impasse when Camello darted infield and fed Alvaro Garcia, who produced an early, drilled strike which flashed throughout Ter Stegen and into the underside nook.
Jules Kounde, enjoying at right-back as he has accomplished for a lot of the season, didn’t get shut sufficient to close the ahead down.
Lewandowski ought to have equalised for Barcelona after good work by Gavi after which Raphinha to set him up, however Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied the ahead one-on-one.
Lewandowski did discover the online shortly earlier than half-time but it surely was dominated out by VAR for offside.
Rayo doubled its lead quickly after the break when left-back Fran Garcia, who will be a part of Real Madrid in the summertime, pressed De Jong and gained the ball again into harmful territory.
The defender smashed a low strike previous Ter Stegen to make Rayo the one aspect to attain multiple towards Barcelona in La Liga this season, apart from Madrid.
Camello might have added a 3rd however fired throughout the face of the purpose earlier than Lewandowski pulled one again for Barcelona after Franck Kessie’s shot was blocked.
It ended a run of 4 matches and not using a purpose for the striker, the division’s prime scorer with 18, 4 forward of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
Despite Barcelona lastly exhibiting some urgency within the remaining phases Rayo held on for under its second win in its final 11 league matches, with Andoni Iraola’s aspect ninth.
