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<\/a><\/p>\nBy Fernando Kallas<\/p>\n
MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday thanks to goals in each half from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia.<\/p>\n
With seven games to play, Barca are top of the league on 76 points, 11 ahead second-placed Real Madrid, who were also stunned 4-2 at lowly Girona on Tuesday. Rayo Vallecano are ninth on 43 points, four adrift of the European qualification spots.<\/p>\n
Rayo halted Barca’s seven game unbeaten streak in the league with a gutsy performance in front of their fans at a sold-out Estadio de Vallecas. <\/p>\n
They were the better side for most of the match against a slapdash Barca and opened the scoring in the 19th minute after Sergio Camello challenged Gavi and quickly fed Alvaro Garcia who riffled an unstoppable low shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.<\/p>\n
The hosts kept pressing and wasted a couple of chances but got a scare when Robert Lewandowski netted what would have been an equaliser in the 40th minute, before his effort was ruled out after the VAR replay showed he was fractionally offside. <\/p>\n
Rayo got back on top in the second half and extended their lead in the 52nd minute thanks to a great effort from Fran Garcia, who stole the ball from Frenkie de Jong in midfield and ran through the heart of the Barca defence to score with a tidy finish past Ter Stegen.<\/p>\n
Camello missed another great chance in the 64th minute and Unai Lopez also wasted another opportunity to extend Rayo’s lead a little later.<\/p>\n
However, Barca cut the deficit through Lewandowski, who latched on to a loose ball inside the box and drilled it into the net in the 83rd minute. <\/p>\n
It proved a consolation, however, as Rayo held on to secure the win.<\/p>\n
“Rayo played a great game. They deserved the win and we were not up to the task tonight,” defender Ronald Araujo told DAZN. <\/p>\n
“Good thing we have a good advantage in the standings and we play the next two games at home, it’s our turn to play at home.”<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis)<\/p>\n
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