Araujo header and Garcia heroics secures Barcelona's narrow win over Rayo
The Hindu
Barcelona secures a narrow 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, maintaining their LaLiga lead thanks to Araujo's header and Garcia's heroics.
Ronald Araujo's first-half header gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at home against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday (March 22, 2026), with goalkeeper Joan Garcia delivering a standout performance to preserve the Catalan side's lead at the top of LaLiga.
Barcelona lead the standings with 73 points, seven ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and will host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in a Spanish capital derby later on Sunday.
Ronald Araujo scored the winner in the 24th minute heading in from a corner lifted by Joao Cancelo from the left. The Portuguese international crossed the ball to the far post, where the Uruguayan defender jumped higher than Pathe Ciss to nod it in off the right post.
However, the key man for the home side was goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who made a string of saves to deny Rayo what would have been a deserved equaliser, earning the 24-year-old the man of the match award.
"Joan is a fantastic player, and he's showing why we signed him last summer. He was outstanding today," Barcelona boss Hansi Flick told DAZN.
Garcia set the tone in the opening minute, producing a brilliant save to deny Carlos Martin after a surging run down the left by Pep Chavarria.
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