Far from the result that FC Barcelona would ideally have wanted, but it was one they managed. A 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano sees Barcelona drop two very important points at a tough away ground.
With criticism already being thrown at Xavi Hernandez, this match does little to help out. Barcelona now remain on 31 points and are one-off behind Real Madrid and three away from fellow Catalan club Girona.
Here is how the Barcelona players fared against Rayo Vallecano.
Player Ratings
Inaki Pena: 6.0
Did not do much wrong on the night but was still unable to keep a clean sheet. His ball distribution was not exactly what Barcelona are used to but Inaki Pena can not be criticized too much for his performance.
Joao Cancelo: 7.0
Looked like the most mature of the Barcelona defenders on the night, his movements felt much more responsible and careful than his teammates. Moreover, he also managed to create far more danger than he would have been expected to.
Andreas Christensen: 6.5
The Danish defender had a decent outing. His passing was reliable and his defensive contributions were also good with some decent footwork.
Inigo Martinez: 7.5
The Spaniard, despite his age, seems to have more and more energy to give every single time he plays for Barcelona. His ball-playing remains an extremely valuable asset for Barcelona, even ending the game with a great ball to Balde that ultimately led to the equalizer.
Alejandro Balde: 6.5
The Spanish youngster returned to the starting eleven for Barcelona. However, his impact was far from what Xavi or the player himself would have hoped for. His speed was a useful trait for Barça to exploit but his daring runs were rather forgettable.
Oriol Romeu: 6.0
Oriol Romeu remains a liability for Barcelona in many ways. His slow decision-making and lack of technical creativity are both two very clear missing qualities that make Barcelona feel much more vulnerable than they would be comfortable with.
Pedri: 6.5
There were undeniable moments of brilliance from the Golden Boy, but ultimately it was not enough. His performance saw many lapses of judgment and unfortunate turnovers as well, and will be a display that Pedri will want to soon put behind himself.
Frenkie De Jong: 7.0
The Dutchman’s return was arguably the highlight of the game before the match started. Frenkie De Jong ended up delivering as well, showcasing a great display of composure and control. It will take time to return to his best, but this was a good start.
Lamine Yamal: 6.5
The young 16-year-old sensation was trusted to annoy Rayo Vallecano as a starter. His performance was not his best display for Barça thus far but it was far from being a bad one. Decent enough outing for the youngster with some dizzying runs sprinkled here and there.
Robert Lewandowski: 6.0
Looked to have scored the equalizer for Barcelona, but it was actually an own goal by Rayo. For much of the game, the Polish striker remained inactive and his contributions were not exactly significant.
Ferran Torres: 6.0
Similar to his teammates in attack, Ferran Torres was rather quiet on the night. The Spaniard barely featured and his 25 touches across his entire time on the field are a testament to this analysis of his performance.
Substitutes
Ilkay Gundogan: 6.5
The German’s experience and composure helped Barcelona regain control. His passes and visions were both important in opening up spaces and exploiting them against Rayo.
Fermin Lopez: 6.0
The young Spaniard was dynamic and attentive since the moment he stepped on. Had a decent amount of contribution on the field but ultimately could not help Barça get a win.
Joao Felix: 7.0
Arguably the most impactful substitution alongside Raphinha, Felix brought a whole new touch to the Barça attack. Attracting defenders and opening up options for his teammates with his one-touch movements and clever passes, the Portuguese star was quite the effective introduction.
Raphinha: 7.0
Alongside Felix, the Brazilian winger was quite dangerous. His movements, shooting, and even in-swinging crosses all managed to put Rayo at the edge of their seats.
