Barcelona draw with Rayo Vallecano amid VAR controversy
Barcelona dropped their first points of the La Liga season with a 1-1 draw away to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, in a match overshadowed by the absence of VAR during the first half. Lamine Yamal scored from the spot, but Fran Pérez’s equalizer denied the champions victory in Madrid.
VAR switched off in Madrid
The main talking point came in the 37th minute when referee Javier Iglesias awarded a penalty for Chavarria’s challenge on 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Rayo players protested, claiming simulation, but with VAR unavailable in the first half, the decision stood.
Yamal converted coolly from 11 meters to give Barça the lead, celebrating with a crown gesture that sparked anger among the home supporters.
Rayo fight back
Despite the uneven pitch making possession play difficult, Rayo Vallecano grew into the game. In the second half, goalkeeper Joan García kept Barcelona ahead with several crucial saves, but he was beaten in the 67th minute when Fran Pérez rifled home from a corner.
Late drama followed as Sergio Camello thought he had completed the turnaround in the 87th minute, only for VAR—this time operational—to rule him offside.
Points shared, but concerns for Barça
Barcelona controlled possession but failed to create clear chances, leaving Hansi Flick frustrated as his side failed to maintain their perfect record.
The champions sit on seven points after three rounds, two behind leaders Athletic Club and Real Madrid. The big shock, however, is Atlético Madrid’s poor start: just two points from three matches, piling pressure on Diego Simeone despite his status as the highest-paid coach in world football.
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