Rayo beat Barcelona in history-making result at Camp Nou to leave Real Madrid one point from title
In a ridiculous night of football, Rayo Vallecano beat Barcelona 0-1 at the Camp Nou.
This was the Blaugrana’s third consecutive home defeat, something they have not suffered since 1998 under Louis van Gaal. Though the Blaugrana remain in second place they have now played their game in-hand and only stay ahead of Sevilla on the head-to-head.
The Pools betting offer: How to get £20 in free bets
Qualifying readers* can follow THIS LINK or click the image below.
*18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you £10 in free bets. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 2 x £5 bets to use on any Sports & Virtual Sports. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Eligibility restrictions apply. Further T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
The pattern of the game was eerily similar to their last home defeat to Cadiz, where the Blaugrana made a ridiculous defensive mistake to gift a goal to a side that otherwise didn’t look like scoring. Their opponent then sat back, wasted time and soaked up chances, knowing that had a lead to hold on to. Barcelona then try in vain to break them down, being denied by solid defending, poor (and/or unlucky) finishing and some downright strange refereeing.
So it was against Cadiz, now against Rayo the same. After the debacle against Eintracht Frankfurt, where 30,000 German fans were able to buy tickets to the game and turn the Camp Nou into an away day for the young Blaugrana side, it seems Barcelona have developed a complex.
The win has made history in a variety of ways; it is just Rayo Vallecano’s second win at the Camp Nou and their first for over 20 years. Moreover it is the first time since 1998 that Barcelona have lost three home games in a row. Back then they lost their last two home games of 1997/98 against Real Betis and Salamanca before losing the home leg of the Supercopa against Mallorca.
This season they fell to Frankfurt in the Europa League before the Cadiz and Rayo double-header defeats not only ended their faint hopes of winning La Liga but have effectively put Real Madrid on the brink of winning La Liga; with Los Blancos needing just one more point.
Barcelona have lost three from their last four games in all competitions. Prior to that they were unbeaten in 15. 😯 pic.twitter.com/cg6UFYixGo
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 24, 2022
For the first time ever, Barcelona have lost three consecutive home matches in the same season, and with Mallorca up next in a week there’s honestly a chance, if they play like this again anyway, that it could become four.
“The ball didn’t want to go in,” said Xavi after the match.
On the top four race, Xavi added: “we’ve made our lives complicated,” and he’s right. Had they beaten Cadiz and Rayo they would have surely cemented their spot in the top four and as runners-up in La Liga. Now they are in a real dogfight for that top four spot.
18+ only • Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • To withdraw any winnings from the Casino Bonus, wager the Bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&Cs apply • BeGambleAware.org• 18+ only. Wager the bonus amount 5x within 7 days on Sports to release your Bonus. Bonus equal to 200% of qualifying deposit – up to £200. Bonus credited in real money without wagering requirements. Deposit with bonus code: SPORST-200. Wager the bonus amount 5x on sports using real money. Each qualifying bet must have 3+ selections at odds of 1.35+ per selection. Once wagering is complete, a 200% cash reward up to £200 will be released. T&Cs apply. 18+ only. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £50* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. BeGambleAware.org. *or currency equivalent. 18+ only. New customer offer. Place a £10 Sportsbook bet on any Football market, at min. odds 1/2 (1.5) between the 1st April and 31st May — get £40 in free bets, valid 30 days. Only deposits via Cards will qualify. Free bets will be awarded after the qualifying bet has been settled. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Pedridependencia?
Barcelona have lost six games in La Liga this season and Pedri didn’t play in a single one of them. In fact when Pedri has been healthy, the Blaugrana’s record in La Liga is 10 wins and 2 draws including storming wins in El Clásico and against Atlético Madrid and Sevilla.
Pedri left the Frankfurt defeat at half-time with an injury; and with the Golden Boy ruled out until the end of the season, Xavi will have genuine concerns about his side’s ability to step up and control games without their 19 year-old midfield maestro. But if they want to secure Champions League qualification for next season that is exactly what they will have to do.
Barcelona have lost six games in La Liga this season and Pedri didn't play in a single one of them. 😳 pic.twitter.com/1c31oio6OQ
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 24, 2022
READ MORE:
- Not signed up to FansBet? You could get a 200% bonus up to £200 by following THIS LINK (18+ only, Ts&Cs apply. Be Gamble Aware)
- Live stream today's football
- Football accumulator tips
