The Blaugrana were indebted to their goalkeeper for earning them a point as they were routinely sliced through by their hosts at Vallecas
Barcelona’s perfect start to the new La Liga season was ended on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano. Lamine Yamal had given the defending champions the lead from the penalty spot, but they were pegged back in the second half amid what was an unconvincing performance.
Joan Garcia had to be alert to save from Andrei Ratiu after Vallecano worked an early opening, while at the other end Raphinha wasted two good opportunities, first shooting wide when he should have passed to Ferran Torres before then failing to find the Spain striker with the goal gaping.
Instead, it was left to Yamal to open the scoring, albeit in controversial circumstances. The teenager was felled in the penalty area, though the contact was minimal. However, with VAR offline, the decision could not be reviewed and Yamal stepped up to net from the penalty spot.
Dani Olmo blazed over from close range when he should have made it 2-0 shortly before half-time, and both he and Barca were eventually made to pay when Rayo substitute Fran Perez volleyed in off the crossbar from a corner.
From there, both teams had chances to win it, as Joan Garcia again saved well to deny Jorge de Frutos while Eric Garcia headed over from a Marcus Rashford corner. The best opportunity, however, fell to Jorge Camello, but he scuffed his effort with the goal gaping after another Joan Garcia save.
GOAL rates Barca’s players from Estadio de Vallecas…