Barcelona Return to Top of La Liga
with Win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona, 18 Feb (ONA) — Barcelona
returned to the top of the Spanish league on goal difference after Robert
Lewandowski’s first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

The Catalan club took advantage of
weekend slip-ups by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to move onto 51 points, the
same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético, the Spanish MARCA newspaper reported.

Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna last
Saturday and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.

Barcelona took the lead after 27
minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Íñigo Martínez in the box, and a penalty
was awarded after a video review. Lewandowski sent the keeper the wrong way
from the spot.

Both sides had chances to score
after that.

Augusto Batalla saved well from
Lamine Yamal, who was playing the 100th game of his career, while at the other
end Jorge De Frutos had the ball in the net for Rayo only to see it ruled out
for offside.

De Frutos was always dangerous for
Rayo, but as the game went on the home side took control as it extended its
unbeaten run to 12 matches.

The defeat ended Rayo nine-game
unbeaten streak that stretched back to 7 December 2024.

— Ends/Khalid