FC Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Top stuff

Barça are back on top of the league! Rayo Vallecano was never going to be an easy test, and in the end only a Robert Lewandowski penalty could split the sides in a remarkably well-fought contest, but it was enough to make sure of the three points that sent the Catalans up from third to first.

After both Real and Atlético Madrid were held to draws on Saturday, this game was a golden opportunity that simply had to be taken. And it was.

Lewy penalty

From a Barça point of view it was a game that went from more to less. For the first half hour or so, they were very much the better side. And they refused to let frustration set in as chance after chance went begging. Lewandowski, Pedri and Raphinha more than once had all come agonisingly close before the deadlock was finally broken by a 28th minute penalty.

Pathé Ciss brought Iñigo Martínez to the ground and the VAR room urged the referee to take a second look. Indeed, penalty.

Lewandowski’s trademark shuffle, in off the post, and Barça were a goal to the good. And it was Lewy's twentieth goal of another superlative season.

Rayo keep battling

The visitors, on a club record streak of nine games without defeat, had been quiet to that point, but conceding a goal sprung them into life, while Barça never quite managed to recover the dominance they had enjoyed for the first 20-or-so minutes.

Wojciech Szczesny’s area was under constant pressure for the rest of the half, the Pole himself doing some find work in nets, and although he was beaten by De Frutos, in the same move Randy Nteka was in an offside position and adjudged to have been interfering with play.

Rayo are knocking on the Champions League door this season, and today’s performance showed why. Barça were ahead, but never looked entirely comfortable and for every chance that they had to double their lead, there was another where Rayo could have equalised.

Nervy finale

De Frutos was involved in more than his fair share of those and over 42,000 souls in the Estadi Olímpic gasped in the final minute of regulation time when his clear header went wide. That was Rayo’s big chance, and Barça were let off the hook.

One final nerve-racking surge from the visitors, but Barça held their ground and can celebrate a grand return to the top of the Liga pile.

Hansi happy

Speaking after the game, Barça boss Hansi Flick said, "It was a very tough match against a great opponent. We're very happy. The players are very happy. We all are, given the situation. I think we played very well today, but we can still do better."

"They were unbeaten in nine matches, so today was a great success for us. Securing that top spot is a positive thing for the fans. Now we're back, and we're very happy."

Hansi... We're all very happy! Força Barça!