After a tough stretch from November to December last year — where they lost 4, drew 3, and won just 1 of their last 8 matches — Barcelona had fallen 7 points behind Real Madrid in the standings, losing ground in the title race. But since the start of 2025, things have looked much brighter for Barca, thanks to their own strong form and frequent slip-ups from both Madrid teams. In Round 23, Atletico and Real drew 1-1 in the Madrid derby, while Barcelona picked up a crucial win against Sevilla. These results, combined with Real’s earlier loss to Espanyol and Atletico's struggles against Leganes and Villarreal, allowed Barcelona to close the gap to just 2 and 1 point behind. After the win against Sevilla, the door was wide open for Barcelona to move into first place — and they took full advantage, securing a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano at home.
Rayo Vallecano did not make it any easier for Barcelona. They came out strong and did not allow Barcelona to dominate early. The first 20 minutes saw Barcelona struggle to get their rhythm. The match turned in the 25th minute when Barcelona was awarded a penalty after Pathe Ciss fouled Inigo Martinez. Lewandowski made no mistake from the spot, giving Barcelona the 1-0 lead. Yamal had a chance to double the lead right after but missed a golden opportunity in front of Rayo keeper Batalla. The first half ended with Barcelona holding a narrow 1-0 advantage.
In the second half, Rayo continued to apply pressure, forcing Barcelona to make adjustments. Hansi Flick brought on Dani Olmo to freshen things up, and Olmo almost made an impact immediately. He turned well in the box but was denied by Batalla, then set up Raphinha for a one-on-one chance, only for Raphinha to miss the shot. The remaining minutes were uneventful, but Barcelona survived a late scare when Jorge de Frutos’ header sailed over the bar. The 1-0 win lifted Barcelona back to the top of La Liga, putting them in control of the title race with their destiny in their own hands. At this time, with the road to the championship wide open, Barcelona’s path to the top is clearer than ever.
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