Barcelona has reclaimed the top spot in La Liga after a tense win over Rayo Vallecano. The victory, fueled by Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty, saw Barca leapfrog title rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid dropped points with a 1-1 draw against an unknown opponent, while Atletico also suffered a draw in another match. This has pushed Barcelona to the top of the table with 51 points.
In the first half, Lewandowski scored his 20th league goal from a penalty after controversy led to its awarding. The Poland striker was not close to the ball when Pathe Ciss pulled him down. Rayo Vallecano protested, but the referee stood firm and Barcelona took the lead.
Barca then struggled in the second half with various missed chances. However, they secured their position at the top by avoiding an equalizer from a counterattack and keeping Rayo’s late scoreless.
With 14 games left, Barca is now one point ahead of Atletico Madrid. This marks a significant turning point for the team as it battles to reclaim La Liga dominance.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c4g9q1n5648t