Goodbyepublished at 22:08 British Summer Time 24 April 2022
Wow, what an evening at the Nou Camp!
Breathless. Exhausting. Brilliant!
Until next time...
Barcelona 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid with six games to play
Rayo Vallecano seven points above bottom three
Jonathan Jurejko
Wow, what an evening at the Nou Camp!
Breathless. Exhausting. Brilliant!
Until next time...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
RAYO HAVE DONE IT! Incredible scenes.
Barcelona have suffered a third successive home defeat - only the second time that has happened in their history.
And it leaves Real Madrid on the brink of the title.
The away players and staff race on to the pitch to celebrate a famous win and a famous double.
Not only that, but the three points all but secures their La Liga safety.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
OFF THE LINE! The free-kick is partially headed clear by Rayo, falling at the feet of Ousmane Dembele who thumps a volley low towards goal. Cantena is placed on th eline to clear.
Rayo are almost there...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Barca are drinking in the last chance saloon now. Free-kick about 40 yards out. Memphis Depay stands over it, everyone else in the box...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Another opening for Ousmane Dembele... again the Frenchman wastes the cross. Heading into stoppage time of stoppage time...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo manage their second shot of the night - and hit the post through Pathe Ciss. What smash and grab that would have been!
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Space for Ousmane Dembele on the right... shanks his cross out for a goal-kick. Cue groans.
And then Rayo quickly counter...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Still Barca are knocking heavily on the Rayo door. It's more bailiff-like than friendly neighbour.
Memphis Depay's eyes light up when he sees some space in front of him, shooting goalwards but a white shirt appears to block. Depay can't believe it.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
A cross from the right... gratefully received by Rayo keeper Dimitrievski. Predictably he takes as long as possible on the floor before slowly climbing to his feet.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Another free-kick from the same position... not the cleanest delivery from Alba but it almost causes havoc. All the game being played in the Rayo third now.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Free-kick for Barca in the Rayo half. Jordi Alba pings one in but Rayo hold firm.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Another break as the referee is alerted to something having been lobbed onto the pitch by an irate Barca fan.
They are not used to seeing their team lose three home matches on the bounce...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
The corner is cleared as far as Jordi Alba, whose shot is fumbled onto the Rayo post by the ever-busy Dimitrievski. Rayo half clear and there is another shot by Alba, although the flag was raised anyway.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Adama Traore wriggles through a sea of Rayo shirts, seeing his low shot pushed wide by Rayo keeper Dimitrievski. Corner!
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
We've had loads of stoppage so expecting a good chunk of added time.
There will be... 11 (ELEVEN) minutes.
Plenty of time for Barca to break Rayo hearts.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Penalty? Barca are convinced Gavi has been shoved over by Rayo defender Catena in the box - and it looks a fair shout.
The referee insists it isn't and is surrounded by Blaugrana shirts.
Looks like there must have been an offside in the build-up.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Adama Traore tries to make something happen on the right, the ball eventually coming into the box and Dimitrievski deciding to punch clear...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo's tactics are clear. Break up play, slow the game down, frustrate Barca even more...
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Just to add a bit more further drama... one of the Rayo backroom staff was shown a red card for complaining that Palazon wasn't allowed back on the pitch.
Barcelona 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo's Isi Palazon is back on and we're back to 11 v 11. Barca on the prowl again, getting into now or never time. A cross from the right is high and easily gathered by Rayo keeper Stole Dimitrievski.