Barcelona routs Rayo Vallecano to top the La Liga table
Braces from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha led Barcelona to a 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou stadium.
Abdulrahman Sadikhli2 min read
In the third round of the Spanish football championship, Barcelona defeated Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at their home stadium, Camp Nou. Thanks to this result, the Catalans have reached 9 points and moved to first place in the league table, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference.
The match started poorly for the hosts: Sergio Camello opened the scoring for the visitors in the 9th minute. However, Barcelona quickly seized the initiative. In the 19th minute, team captain Raphinha equalized, and two minutes later, Lamine Yamal put the hosts ahead with a precise shot into the top corner.
At the start of the second half, Barcelona's lead increased after Rayo Vallecano defender Florian Lejeune scored an own goal while attempting to intercept a pass from Anthony Gordon. Despite the 3-1 scoreline, the visitors managed to narrow the gap in the 59th minute thanks to a header from Sergio Camello following a corner kick.
In the 71st minute, Raphinha completed his brace by finishing a backheel pass from Anthony Gordon. The final score was set by Lamine Yamal in the 90th minute, marking his 51st La Liga goal at the age of 19.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick noted the team's high-quality performance in the first half after the match, but emphasized the need for better control of the game when holding a two-goal lead. "We have the quality to control the game and increase possession, but the team's mentality is often focused on constant attacking," the specialist stated.
New signing Gabriel Jesus, who transferred from Arsenal, watched the game from the stands. Flick described the Brazilian as a top-class striker who will be an important reinforcement for the squad.
Source: aawsat.com
