Barcelona fight back to draw at Rayo Vallecano

Nov 25 (Reuters) – Defender Florian Lejeune’s second-half goal earned Barcelona a point in a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

The La Liga champions are third on 31 points, three behind second-placed Real Madrid and surprise leaders Girona, who both have a game in hand.

They can move ahead of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on 28 points, with two games in hand, and host lowly Mallorca on Saturday.

Barca manager Xavi Hernandez made six changes to the squad after injuries to key players including goalkeeper Marc-Andre der Stegen and midfielder Kavi suffered a torn ACL in Spain’s win over Georgia. Alaves in their previous game but his side continued to struggle.

Rayo got off to a great start and outplayed last season’s champions throughout the first half before opening the scoring in the 39th minute with a stunning strike from midfielder Unai Lopez.

Following a free kick, Lopez pounced on a loose ball from a rebound and fired inside the left post after Barca’s defense blocked two attempts in a crowded penalty box.

Barca, rushing back after the break, leveled in the 82nd minute when Rayo defender Lejeune headed the ball into his own net with the tip of his boot as he tried to clear a cross.

„We didn’t play well, we weren’t at our level. We have to work hard,” midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who returned to the starting line-up after missing 10 games through injury, told Movistar Plus.

„We have a good team, the program is good, everyone ran as much as they could, but we have to keep going. We have a lot of injuries, true, but there is a lot of season to recover from.”

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.