Barcelona drew 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano as Lamine Yamal converted a 40th-minute penalty and Fran Pérez equalised with a 67th-minute volley from a corner. Rayo repeatedly troubled Barcelona with speed and runs that beat the high offside line, creating space for Jorge de Frutos, Álvaro García and Isi Palazón. VAR failed to operate at the Estadio de Vallecas, so a fiercely protested foul that led to the penalty went unreviewed. Goalkeeper Joan García produced five important saves, including multiple one-on-one stops. Fermín López appeared as a second-half substitute amid reported Chelsea interest.
Lamine Yamal scored from the penalty spot but Barcelona needed goalkeeper Joan García to ensure they left Rayo Vallecano with a point after a 1-1 draw in the Spanish league on Sunday. The defending champions were largely outplayed by the modest side from Madrid with their speed and ability to break Barcelona's offside trap. It was Barcelona's first slip of the season after they started with a pair of wins at Mallorca and Levante.
Yamal stepped up and fired in the 40th-minute spot kick, before celebrating by gesturing as if he were placing a crown on his head. It was the 18-year-old's second goal of the campaign. Rayo's pressure and the quickness of Jorge de Frutos, Álvaro García and Isi Palazón repeatedly created space behind Barcelona's high defensive line. García made five key saves, including denying De Frutos and Andrei Ratiu one-on-one.
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