Barca wobble continues as Rayo win puts Real Madrid on brink of title

Barcelona were defeated 1-0 by Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving Real Madrid the potential to win La Liga if they tie Espanyol at home next weekend.

Barca’s spot in the top four is also in jeopardy after a third straight defeat at Camp Nou extended their late-season slump and saw them waste a chance to break away in the Champions League qualifying race.

With five games remaining, Madrid are 15 points clear of Barcelona, and while the Catalan club has a better head-to-head record, Carlo Ancelotti’s team knows they will be untouchable if they only get a point from Espanyol on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

With five games remaining to play, Barcelona should still have enough to finish in the top four, but winning this game in hand against an out-of-form Rayo would have made the last stretch a lot easier.

Rather, their recent form, as well as their current position, will be a major concern for coach Xavi, whose club has only won twice in their last six games.

After losing 1-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals, they were then eliminated 1-0 by Cadiz in La Liga.

On Saturday, Xavi spoke of “recovering the sensations” of a few weeks ago, when a 4-0 thumping of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu appeared to cement Barcelona’s position as La Liga’s favourite for the coming season.

But, with the team’s season on the verge of ending in a whimper, that seems like a distant memory.

Barcelona, who began the season with debts of more than a billion euros, could not afford to miss out on the Champions League.

Missing out on second place would have ramifications as well, given that the Catalans’ qualification for the Spanish Super Cup is estimated to be worth roughly eight million euros.

Third-placed Sevilla is level on points with Barcelona, while fourth-placed Atletico Madrid is two points behind.

Rayo, on the other hand, has climbed to 11th place in the table, having reached the 40-point barrier that should ensure their survival.

Rayo endured 12 games without a win between February and April after a strong start to the season, but any fears of relegation are long gone.

They took the lead in the seventh minute when Isi Palazon weaved his way through Barcelona’s midfield and saw Alvaro Garcia’s looping run in from the left.

Sergino Dest was sluggish to react, and Garcia pounced, controlling with his left hand and shooting with his right, leaving Marc-Andre ter Stegen with no time to adjust.

Barcelona had chances, particularly in the second half, when Memphis Depay’s effort was stopped by Nikola Maras following a nice dummy by Ousmane Dembele, who had a shot deflected onto the post by Stole Dimitrievski.

When Alejandro Catena barged into the back of the kid in the area in the 89th minute, Gavi appeared to have a strong claim for a penalty, but neither the referee nor VAR were convinced.

Barca continued to press in the 11th minute of additional time, and Dembele saw another shot saved off the line by Catena.

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