Spanish champions Barcelona continued a troubling trend of poor performances on Saturday in La Liga, stumbling in a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
Over the next two days, surprise leaders Girona and opponents Real Madrid in second position have the opportunity to increase their lead over the third-place Catalans.
In the first half, Unai Lopez gave Rayo the lead with a long-range strike, but Florian Lejeune’s own goal in the 82nd minute gave Barca a point.
The draw heightens the uncertainties around Barcelona, who haven’t played well in a few weeks and will take on Porto on Tuesday in an attempt to advance to the Champions League knockout phase.
“I think it was a game of two halves, in the first we dominated but we weren’t aggressive enough to cause damage,” Xavi stated to DAZN.
“To win the league, we must win these games. In the second half, we scored one goal and had more opportunities to score.
“We have to be self-critical, it’s costing us too much this season giving things away … in modern football a lot changes when they score against you.”
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined due to a back injury, Inaki Pena began play in goal for Barcelona. Xavi substituted the fit-again Frenkie de Jong for the injured Gavi in the midfield.
Due to a cruciate ligament tear, the 19-year-old will miss the entire season for Barcelona, losing a player the coach has called the “soul” of the team.
Before the game, players from Barcelona wore shirts with the words “we are with you, Gavi” and his name on the back.
When Pena was initially called into action, he spilled the ball, but he swiftly got up to eliminate the threat.
De Jong dropped the ball on the edge of his own box, and the custodian then denied Oscar Valentin.
Those hosting Encouraged by their three victories against Barca in their four prior meetings—two of which took place at their dilapidated Vallecas stadium—Rayo got off to a strong start.
After the ball was cleared into Lopez’s path, he took 39 minutes to put them ahead with a fantastic shot into the bottom right corner from about 30 yards away.
In stoppage time, Rayo nearly added a second, but Alejandro Balde saw the low cross from Jorge de Frutos and cut it out before two Rayo attackers could take advantage.
Absence of fervour
Barca showed Xavi’s prediction that they would miss Gavi’s “intensity, heart and courage” against Francisco Rodriguez’s team accurate, even though they did do a little better after the half.
Perhaps in the first moments of the second half, Ferran Torres headed a header that went too close to Rayo custodian Stole Dimitrievski, levelling the score.
After yet another unsatisfactory performance at the base of Barca’s midfield, Xavi and Oriol Romeu replaced the winger right away, bringing in Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Felix.
As Barca looked for an equaliser, Pedri headed a cross from Robert Lewandowski just wide of the mark, and Inigo Martinez nodded a Gundogan free kick off target as well.
Rayo blocked Lewandowski’s attempt to finish from the rebound after Raphinha’s powerful shot hit the post.
With eight minutes remaining, Lejeune, under pressure from Lewandowski, veered Balde’s cross into his own net, bringing the Catalans level.
When Pacha Espino challenged Raphinha during stoppage time, he collapsed, and he called for a penalty, but the referees refused to give it.
De Jong said to DAZN, “We weren’t at the level that we can be; we didn’t play well.”
“We need to work on improving—everyone ran as hard as they could, the plan is sound, and we are confident.”
“I think that we weren’t good in possession.”
Barcelona has already lost five straight games against Rayo and might drop to sixth place behind Girona should their neighbours defeat Athletic Bilbao at Montilivi on Monday.
Two points ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid travels to Cadiz on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid, in fourth position, hosts Mallorca later on Saturday.