"Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano's match ends in a tie, causing Rayo to express frustration over the faulty VAR system"
Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano Draw in Tumultuous Match Marred by VAR Issues
Barcelona's unbeaten run came to an end in a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, with the match being marked by technical glitches with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Joan Garcia, Barcelona's goalkeeper, was commended for his performance, making crucial saves and demonstrating confidence with and without the ball. Hansi Flick, Barcelona's coach, reserved praise for Garcia, stating that he made five saves to preserve a point.
The only goal of the match was scored by Barcelona's Lamine Yamal via a 40th-minute penalty. However, Rayo Vallecano equalised in the 67th minute, with Fran Perez finding the back of the net.
Perez, Rayo Vallecano's coach, described the game as "very complete" on his team's part, with the team having a pre-planned strategy. He also expressed frustration due to technical problems with the VAR, preventing a potential Barcelona penalty review during the match.
The VAR issues were reported before the kick-off, with referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer informing both coaches that the technology was not working. Despite this, the match proceeded, and after service briefly returned in the 11th minute, it was lost again, making pitch-side reviews impossible.
Barcelona dropped points for the first time this season, following back-to-back wins over Mallorca and Levante. The draw leaves Barcelona trailing Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao by two points.
Hansi Flick described Rayo Vallecano as an intense team, playing fantastically throughout the match. Barcelona will host Valencia in their first game after the international break on September 14.
Inigo Perez, Rayo Vallecano's coach, suggested that the match should have been postponed if the technology was not fully operational. Perez has historically been a supporter of referees, even acknowledging their errors. However, he expressed regret for his behavior during the match, attributing it to frustration.
Perez was not the only one voicing dissatisfaction. Hansi Flick expressed dissatisfaction with Barcelona's performance in the second half against Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona failed to register a shot on target during the second half of the match, contributing to the draw.
Joan Garcia, despite his impressive performance, was not part of Rayo Vallecano on September 14, 2021, against Valencia; he was part of Espanyol at that time and only established as Espanyol's first-choice goalkeeper later, moving to Barcelona in June 2025.
