3 Reasons why Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano

#2. Rayo Vallecano go off the boil after their goal

Rayo Vallecano fell away after their opening salvo

A game between the table-toppers and a side battling for survival always seemed a mismatch on paper. Yet, those who watched the opening half an hour were treated to a brave display by the away side.

The visitors defended stoutly and negated the space in behind their defence. Rayo was content to play a deep line and that forced the likes of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal to go backwards and sideways rather than forward.

Moreover, their propensity to get stuck into Barcelona had the Blaugrana worried for a while. They even threw a spanner into the hosts’ works by taking the lead against the run of play.

However, as has been the case with the away side this season, they couldn’t sustain their quality of performance. The advantage of the goal should ideally have galvanised them to scale another level. Yet, they regressed and allowed Barcelona into the game courtesy an elementary defensive error.

Pique was provided the freedom of the box to head home the leveller. In addition, the visitors contrived to concede a penalty through some poor defending. Thus, highlighting the problems plaguing Rayo at the moment.

Before the game commenced, not many believed that the away side could come away with anything from the Camp Nou. Yet, with the early goal, they had an opportunity to pull themselves out of trouble. But unfortunately, they only ended up slipping further into the relegation quicksand.