FC Barcelona have dropped their first points of the 2025/26 Liga campaign, not so much due to their own failings as the fact that they were up against a Rayo Vallecano side that could get a lot of people talking this year.

The defending league champions took the lead through a Lamine Yamal penalty late in the first half, but Rayo never stopped believing and were eventually rewarded when substitute Fran Pérez converted after 67 minutes.

Barça’s reaction never really came. Rayo wouldn’t let them, and instead it was down to an outstanding Joan García to ensure the consequences weren’t even worse with a series of superb interventions.

_MGA5249
Want Lamine Yamal's jersey?
Get the shirt of the La Masia player who is thrilling everyone
BUY IT!

Tight contest

On a surface of questionable quality and with no VAR due to a technical problem, Barça started brightly enough, with their forward line creating all kinds of early trouble for the Rayo defence. But the home side soon worked their way into the battle with the kind of football that has earned them only their second ever season in Europe.

They came closest when Vallecas was already celebrating what looked like a certain goal for Andrei Ratiu from point-blank range but Joan García produced a sensational block to keep it out.

From open play, Barça’s best chances of the first half came when Raphinha hooked back a delicious ball to Ferran Torres, but the latter’s connection arrived just a millisecond too late, and when Dani Olmo skied a fine opportunity just before the break.

Lamine from the spot

Instead, it was from the penalty spot that Barça finally broke the deadlock, with Lamine Yamal adjudged to have been brought down in the area. Rayo protested, but with communications with the VAR room, it wouldn’t have made any difference anyway.

Lamine himself stepped up to take the kick, sent Rayo keeper Augusto Batalla the wrong way, and Barça were a goal to the good in a fast-paced and tightly contested encounter.

Rayo hit back

The second half was just as intense, Barça again starting strongest but Rayo working their way more and more into the fray. The Catalans were anything but comfortable with their lead and Jorge de Frutos had already found the net from a clearly offside position when an unmarked Fran Pérez met a corner on the volley to blast Rayo back level.

It was devastating for Barça. Not only had they lost the lead but also the momentum and if it wasn’t for Joan García the damage would have been worse. Both Ratiu and De Frutos were through one-on-one on the keeper, and both times the new blaugrana hero came out on top.

Barça tried and tried to find their own way through, but Rayo held their ground and continued to enjoy the best of the chances as the minutes ticked down, Ratiu having a goal chalked off for offside, Camello making an utter mess of a dangerous chance and yet more heroics from Joan García. It’s painful to admit, but Barça were probably fortunate to get out of this with a point.

Hansi Flick had predicted a tough test. And he was quite right.

No football next week as international football kicks in, but Barça will be back in a fortnight's time when they take on Valencia.

    of
    Força Barça