Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Barcelona

Rayo Vallecano drew with Barcelona in a La Liga match, marking Barcelona's first dropped points this season. The game was affected by issues with the video assistant referee (VAR) technology.

Barcelona took the lead in the 40th minute with a penalty scored by teenager Lamine Yamal, who was brought down by Rayo Vallecano's Pep Chavarria. However, VAR was not operational at the time, leading to controversy over the decision.

Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, made his third appearance for Barcelona, coming on in the 62nd minute. Despite a lively atmosphere and a poor pitch, Rashford had a limited impact, providing a good corner that was headed over by Eric Garcia.

Rayo Vallecano equalized in the 67th minute through Fran Perez's volley from a corner. The hosts had a goal disallowed for offside, and Barcelona's goalkeeper Joan Garcia made a crucial late save to deny Sergio Camello.

Barcelona, the reigning champions, had won their first two La Liga matches but now sit fourth with seven points from three games. Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao lead the table with nine points each.

The match was analyzed by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who explained the VAR issues. He clarified that the system was not functioning properly, affecting the referee's ability to review decisions. Despite complaints from Rayo Vallecano about the penalty decision, Balague suggested that the referee likely made the correct call.

Rayo Vallecano will participate in the Conference League this season, marking their second European campaign.