Three talking points from Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Hansi Flick’s side are top of the table

Barcelona go top ... now can they stay there?

Barcelona beat Rayo 1-0 to go top of the table in La Liga on Monday but there’s no doubt at all that this was a very tough night for Hansi Flick’s side.

Rayo headed to Barcelona with the best record of all in La Liga so far in 2025 and showed exactly why with a strong showing at Montjuic.

In contrast, Barca had a tough night with their prolific frontline of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha misfiring for once and their only goal coming from the penalty spot.

4 - No @LaLigaEn team has scored more penalty goals with the score tied than #Barcelona this season (4, like Alavés and Leganés), with Robert Lewandowski scoring three of those four. Tight. pic.twitter.com/WUHFsbZyLa

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 17, 2025

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny ended up outshining the forward line with some good saves to preserve a clean sheet and also his unbeaten record for the club, while Flick and Frenkie de Jong both made it clear the team will have to improve if they are to stay top of the pile.

Some more big tests are coming up next which may give us more indication of whether Barca can go the distance.

The team’s next league games are against Las Palmas, Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Atletico - four teams they were beaten by in the first half of the campaign.

VAR in the spotlight yet again in La Liga

The match officials were in the spotlight again after this win due to a number of controversial incidents in the match, all of which went in Barcelona’s favor.

The Catalans were awarded a penalty after Inigo Martinez has been hauled down in the penalty. The incident was missed initially but was always going to be given once the ref had been sent to the screens.

Yet Rayo also wanted a penalty for a shirt grab by Hector Fort on Abdul Mumin that wasn’t seen at the time and didn’t seem to be of interest to VAR either.

Rayo also saw a goal by Jorge de Frutos ruled out after a check as a clearly offside Randy Nteka blocked off Inigo Martinez.

Really not a controversial offside to disallow the Rayo Vallecano goal.

We saw it in the Premier League with an Aston Villa goal vs. Wolves recently, which was less blatant.

Randy Nteka clearly interferes with Inigo Martinez from an offside position.pic.twitter.com/GXZz0cDLt1

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) February 17, 2025

If you're offside and come into contact with a defender who might challenge, it's going to be given.

The Vallecano player even seems to move into Martinez's path.

If the goal was given, I'd have expected a VAR intervention.

Remember, it's an offside offence and not a foul.

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) February 17, 2025

Rayo voiced their complaints after the match, while Flick defended the use of technology.

“I haven’t rewatched the incidents but I will always stand by the VAR,” he told reporters. “We have the VAR and I believe in the VAR, that’s all I can say about it.”

The incident will only add further fuel to the growing complaints about the standard of refereeing and use of VAR in La liga at a time when an exciting title race really should be the focus.

Pedri is a man reborn

Pedri was the star of the show yet again for Barcelona on Monday night as he produced another masterclass to help the Catalans down a very good Rayo side.

Yet it wasn’t just his incredible talent that was on show. Pedri seemed to be absolutely everywhere and looks so much fitter, stronger and more durable that he has ever done during his time at Barcelona.

8️⃣#BarçaRayo | #LALIGAEASPORTS | #LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/iOuHXm9lBJ

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) February 17, 2025

Hansi Flick played tribute to the work his coaching staff have done with Pedri since arriving in the summer after the match.

“Physically it’s thanks to the good work of Julio Tous and his team,” he told reporters. “They’ve done a spectacular job. It’s also a credit to Deco, who signed everyone. Pedri has had a great game, he’s extraordinary.”

Stat show that while Barcelona players ran an average of 9.5km during the match, Pedri outshone them all by running a massive 13km. He’s also now played more minutes this season that he managed in the entirety of the last campaign.

Long may it continue.

Source: barcablaugranes.com