Barcelona go Top of La Liga with Controversial Win

Barcelona edged past Rayo Vallecano with a 1-0 victory at Camp Nou, thanks to a controversial penalty converted by Robert Lewandowski. The win sees Barcelona leapfrog Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to take the lead in La Liga, albeit with both rivals having a game in hand.

The match was marred by controversial refereeing decisions, with Rayo Vallecano feeling aggrieved at several calls that went against them. The decisive moment came in the 28th minute when Lewandowski converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review for a foul on Iñigo Martínez.

Despite dominating possession, Barcelona struggled to create clear-cut chances and were indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for a string of fine saves that preserved their lead. Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter-attack and were left frustrated by the penalty decision and a disallowed goal for Jorge de Frutos.

Controversial Calls

Rayo Vallecano were particularly aggrieved at a penalty appeal that was turned down after Pau Cubarsí appeared to foul Pathé Ciss in the box. They also felt that De Frutos’ disallowed goal was a harsh decision.

Manager Inigo Perez expressed his frustration with the officiating after the match.

“I prefer to keep to myself my opinion regarding the referee today but everyone acts as they should or believe they should,” Perez said. “You always have the pain of losing but today it will take a few hours for me to calm down considering everything that happened and the way we played. At the moment, the only word I can find is bitterness…”

Despite the controversy, Barcelona will be pleased to have secured a crucial victory that takes them top of La Liga. They showed resilience and determination to hold on for the win, with Szczesny’s performance proving decisive.

This victory throws the La Liga title race wide open, with just two points separating the top three teams. Barcelona will be hoping to maintain their momentum and continue their challenge for the title.