Robert Lewandowski’s penalty sends Barcelona to the top of LaLiga with a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Published On 17 Feb 2025
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 on to 51 points on Monday, the same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético.
Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna on Saturday, and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.
“We shouldn’t fall into the trap of looking too much at what’s happening in the table,” Barcelona keeper Wojciech Szczesny told Barca One after the match.
“We were also, at one point, nine points ahead of everyone else. You could see that when you get too excited or too relaxed, things can change very quickly. So, we have to be at our very best in the next match and then the game after that.
“We still have three trophies to fight for. We have the chance to do something very special this season.”
Barcelona took the lead after 27 minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Inigo 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