Barca’s place within the high 4 continues to be not safe both after a 3rd consecutive defeat at Camp Nou continued their late-season wobble and noticed them squander the possibility to tug away within the race for Champions League qualification.
Madrid stay 15 factors clear with 5 video games left to play and whereas Barcelona have a greater head-to-head, Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect know they are going to be uncatchable in the event that they take only a level from Espanyol on Saturday on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barcelona ought to nonetheless have sufficient for the highest 4 given they sit six factors away from Actual Betis in fifth, with 5 video games left to play, however profitable this sport in hand in opposition to an out-of-form Rayo aspect will surely have made the run-in extra snug.
As an alternative, their kind, as a lot as their place, will probably be an actual concern for coach Xavi, whose group have now gained solely twice of their final six matches.
This loss comes after they had been crushed at residence by Eintracht Frankfurt within the Europa League quarter-finals after which defeated by Cadiz in La Liga, additionally 1-0.
Xavi talked on Saturday about “recovering the sensations” of some weeks in the past, when a 4-0 thrashing of Actual Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu seemed set to position Barcelona at the same time as favourites in La Liga subsequent season.
However that appears like a distant reminiscence now, with the group’s season in peril of ending with a whimper.
Lacking out on the Champions League could be unthinkable for Barcelona, who began the season with money owed of greater than a billion euros.
Lacking out on second place would have penalties too given qualification for the Spanish Tremendous Cup can also be believed to be price round eight million euros to the Catalans.
Sevilla, in third, are degree on factors with Barcelona whereas Atletico Madrid, in fourth, are two factors behind.
Rayo, in the meantime, transfer as much as eleventh within the desk, reaching the 40-point mark that ought to assure their survival.
After a superb begin to the season, promoted Rayo went 12 video games with out a win between February and April however any considerations about relegation are certainly now over.
They took the lead within the seventh minute when Isi Palazon danced via Barcelona’s midfield and noticed the curving run of Alvaro Garcia, who had dashed inside from the left.
Sergino Dest was too gradual to react and Garcia struck shortly, controlling along with his left and firing in along with his proper, giving Marc-Andre ter Stegen no likelihood to regulate.
Barcelona had probabilities, particularly within the latter phases as Memphis Depay’s shot was blocked by Nikola Maras after a intelligent dummy by Ousmane Dembele, who himself had a shot diverted onto the submit by Stole Dimitrievski.
Gavi seemed to have a good declare for a penalty within the 89th minute when Alejandro Catena barged into the again of the teenager within the field – however neither the referee nor VAR had been satisfied.
With 11 minutes of added time, Barca saved coming, and Dembele noticed one other effort cleared off the road by Catena.
Rayo held on for a sensational victory.
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