Barca tops La Liga with win over Vallecano

Barcelona triumphed over Rayo Vallecano to sit top of the Spanish La Liga.

The Catalans won 1-0, courtesy of a first half penalty from Robert Lewandowski. The contest saw Vallecano’s nine-game unbeaten run come to an end, with the away loss to Barca.

The first half started with the hosts being the better side as they kept asking questions. Meanwhile, Rayo defended the edge of their box aggressively, and moved the ball high and wide with speed when they won it back.

Barcelona came close with Raphinha, early in the game, with the Brazilian being slipped through twice. He skimmed the first effort against the post before forcing a strong save from Augusto Batalla.

The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute, when Pathe Ciss brought down Inigo Martinez at a corner. After a VAR review, the penalty was given, and Robert Lewandowski fired his effort in off the post.

The visitors tried fighting back as they raised their game and causing Barcelona problems. Wojciech Szczesny was forced into a brilliant save down to his left before the break.

The second half ended as stalement as both sides were unable to find the back of the net.

Lewandowski failed to finish a brilliant work down the left from Pedri, and Raphinha blazed another effort over.

Vallecano also had a chance in the final minute of the match, when Adrian Embarba broke the offside trap down the left. His ball found de Frutos with the goal gaping, but the ex-Real Madrid man could not get high enough to direct the ball down, and saw his effort sail behind.

The victory sent Barcelona to the top of the league, levelled on 51 points with Real Madrid, one ahead of Atletico Madrid.

Rayo Vallecano remain sixth, a point above Mallorca, after having their unbeaten run cut short.