La Liga Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Barcelona were fortunate to avoid defeat against Rayo Vallecano, as Hansi Flick’s team held on for a 1-1 draw. Lamine Yamal’s penalty was cancelled out by Fran Perez’s second-half strike, as they dropped their first points of the 2025/26 La Liga season.

The visitors started brightly and really should have taken the lead after a mistake from Unai Lopez. His clumsy backpass was intercepted by Raphinha, but the Brazilian could only sweep his shot past the post.

Vallecano steadily grew into the game and should have then scored themselves. Alvaro Garcia was able to skip past Jules Kounde and fire in a low cross which found Andrei Ratiu, but the defender’s shot was superbly saved by Joan Garcia.

However, the hosts were left furious after the referee pointed to the spot, following Pep Chavarria’s challenge on Yamal in the penalty area. Vallecano were convinced the youngster had dived, but the decision was upheld and Yamal buried his effort into the bottom corner.

Barcelona could have then doubled their lead shortly before half-time, with Yamal again at the heart of the move. Playing Kounde down the right, the Frenchman’s cutback was palmed back into a dangerous area, but Dani Olmo fired well over from close range.

Vallecano emerged after the break with the same intent they had shown in the first half. Some good defending prevented their search for an equaliser, but they then had a goal disallowed for offside. A poor pass from Eric Garcia was intercepted, with the ball played into Isi Palazon. Although he found the bottom corner, the offside flag was raised before the ball hit the net.

But they were rewarded for their efforts just moments later. Fran Perez, who had only been substituted on minutes earlier, was left unmarked at the back post for a corner, as he volleyed the ball past Garcia for a deserved goal.

Barcelona really struggled to get going and could have even fallen behind were it not for the excellent Garcia. De Frutos was played through on goal by Isi with just the shot-stopper to beat, but the Blaugrana ‘keeper made an excellent save to deny him.

Garcia pulled off more heroics in the final 10 minutes, making another good save to deny Isi, before then pulling off an excellent diving stop to keep Fran Perez out again. Barcelona will ultimately be thankful to have avoided defeat and will look to bounce back against Valencia after the international break. Vallecano, meanwhile, will rue their wasteful finishing and hope for better fortunes against Osasuna in two weeks.

Match Highlights

Full match highlights will be uploaded when available.

Match Statistics

Rayo Vallecano Ratings

GK – Augusto Batalla – 5/10

Made a decent stop to deny Lamine Yamal in the opening minutes of the game. Couldn’t have done much for the penalty, but some of his saves nearly got his team in trouble, as he parried the ball back into dangerous areas.

RB – Andrei Ratiu – 4/10

Really should have scored after an excellent cross from Garcia. Although effective going forward, he was sometimes caught out high up the pitch.

CB – Florian Lejeune – 5/10

Although Barcelona found ways through, Lejeune helped to thwart other attacks individually. Looked much more assured after half time.

CB – Luiz Felipe – 5/10

Had a chance to score from a corner but could only head the ball straight at Garcia. Like Lejeune, he didn’t give Barcelona’s attackers much space to work in.

LB – Josep Chavarria – 4/10

A great burst down the flank early on nearly set up Diaz for the opener. His challenge for the penalty was clumsy, though, despite protestations that Yamal had dived.

RM – Jorge de Frutos – 6/10

He pushed high to exploit Balde’s forward runs up the pitch, which he did well. Really should have scored in the second half when played through on goal, which could have won his side the game.

CM – Pathe Ismael Ciss – 6/10

A decent performance from the Senegalese midfielder, who was the composed presence in the engine room for Rayo. Played some excellent passes to launch attacks.

CM – Unai Lopez – 4/10

Was lucky that his poor backpass was not buried by Raphinha early on. He was wasteful with his passing and failed to turn the ball over as well as his partner. Withdrawn 15 minutes into the second half after failing to improve.

LM – Alvaro Garcia – 5/10

Played a really good pass into the box for Ratiu in the opening stages of the game, but his teammate could only shoot straight at Garcia. A lot of attacks for Vallecano came down the opposite flank after the interval, so Garcia had less influence as the game went on.

ST – Pedro Diaz – 3/10

Pretty much anonymous in the first half, unlike his teammates who pressed Barcelona with serious intent. That didn’t really change in the second.

ST – Isi Palazon – 8/10

Fired a shot over after a quick counter-attack from Vallecano in the 22nd minute and then couldn’t keep a later shot down from even closer range. Although he was wasteful, Isi was a constant live wire for his side. Involved in almost every attack for Rayo, he assisted Fran Perez’s goal and had a late strike ruled out for an earlier offside.

SUB – Fran Lopez – 7/10

Brought on for Unai Lopez. Nearly set Isi up for Vallecano’s disallowed goal, only to then score himself moments later. Talk about impact.

SUB – Oscar Valentin – 5/10

Brought on for Felipe to provide further defensive cover.

SUB – Sergio Camello – 5/10

Replaced De Frutos after the winger’s poor miss.

SUB – Alfonso Espino – N/A

Brought on in added time, so couldn’t make an impact.

SUB – Gerard Gumbau – N/A

Also brought on in added time, so couldn’t make much of an impact.

Barcelona Player Ratings

GK – Joan Garcia – 9/10

Vallecano might have embarrassed Barcelona were it not for Garcia. The goalkeeper needed to be alert to make important saves, including a close-range strike from Ratiu and then an even better one-on-one stop to deny De Frutos. A calm presence at the back during a frantic game, the decision to sign the Spaniard from rivals Espanyol already looks to be an excellent bit of business, even if he was eventually beaten.

RB – Jules Kounde – 6/10

Returned to the lineup after missing the Levante match. Nearly caught out early on after a long ball was knocked behind him, which Vallecano really should have scored from, but offered a lot going forward.

CB – Eric Garcia – 6/10

Made some good recoveries in the first half to deny Diaz and De Frutos in the first half. Really put under pressure in the second, as Vallecano found ways through consistently.

CB – Andreas Christensen – 7/10

Replaced Ronald Araujo in the team and, although he was caught out early on by deliveries in behind him, he grew into the game. He made an excellent tackle to prevent Isi Palazon in the first half, before making a superb sliding interception to cut out a low cross into the box. Not at fault for the goal.

LB – Alejandro Balde – 4/10

Vallecano tried to exploit his flank frequently through Palazon, De Frutos and Ratiu, particularly whenever Balde went forward. Didn’t offer enough in attack to outweigh the danger he left behind him, with most of Vallecano’s second-half attacks coming down his side.

CDM – Frenkie De Jong – 6/10

Back in the team after missing the match against Levante. The Dutchman kept things ticking over, but it was hardly a remarkable performance.

CDM – Pedri – 6/10

Pulled the strings in midfield as he so often does for the Blaugrana. Like De Jong, it wasn’t a display to remember.

RW – Lamine Yamal – 8/10

Some nice touches and an early shot to test Batalla. His dribbling to win the penalty was absolutely sublime and he made no mistake from the spot. Looked like Barcelona’s most dangerous attacker throughout the night.

CAM – Dani Olmo – 5/10

Came in to replace Marcus Rashford. Had a speculative shot from range saved by Batalla after a smart free-kick routine, but his miss at the end of half-time was especially disappointing. Could have had another at the start of the second after being teed up by Raphinha, but couldn’t hit the target.

LW – Raphinha – 6/10

Should really have opened the scoring after Lopez’s wasteful backpass. Then spurned another good chance when he failed to find Torres.

ST – Ferran Torres – 5/10

Struggled to get involved, but could have scored in the first half had Raphinha’s pass been better. Might have got an assist too, had Olmo worn his shooting boots.

SUB – Fermin Lopez – 4/10

Came on for Dani Olmo along with Rashford. The Chelsea target had some nice touches, but didn’t have too much of an effect on proceedings.

SUB – Marcus Rashford – 4/10

Brought on for Raphinha just after the hour mark. Didn’t have too many chances to attack.

SUB – Gerard Martin – 5/10

Replaced Balde, who had run out of gas. Made a good sliding tackle late on to stop Isi running through on goal.

SUB – Robert Lewandowski – 4/10

Came on with 10 minutes remaining but barely had a chance to cause any problems, as Vallecano dominated proceedings in search of a late winner.