Joan García was forced into a save from Carlos Martín after just 50 seconds, when Rayo beat Barça’s high line with their first attack of the game, and it would be 10 minutes before the hosts had their first shot on target, a tame effort from Gerard Martín that was safely gathered by Augusto Batalla.
Raphinha somehow missed the target after cutting out a pass in the centre circle and having the run on Pathé Ciss, whilst the visitors packed the midfield and looked to break at pace at every opportunity.
Barça continued to probe for the opener, and, on 24 minutes, a lovely cross from a Joao Cancelo corner found Ronald Araújo at the far post, and his downward header gave the hosts the lead.
One almost quickly became two, but Batalla managed to push a rocket from Raphinha onto the crossbar as the hosts continued to threaten. Some scrappy play from both sides followed, and a series of free-kicks disrupted the flow of the game. Though Barça were still in the ascendancy as the half-time whistle was blown, they’d rarely looked like adding to Araújo’s opener.
Within three minutes of the restart, Rayo again beat the offside trap, though Fran Perez’s cross could only find García’s gloves.
As the hour mark approached, Barça stepped up the pace again, with a handful of half-chances going begging. Rayo were almost back on level terms when a fierce left-footed strike from Alvaro García was well saved from his namesake, and the goalkeeper then somehow diverted a header from Unai Lopez away from danger whilst in mid-air.
The lack of fluidity in Barca’s play drew loud whistles from the Camp Nou faithful, and when four Rayo players broke the lines again, the home support held their breath. Fortunately for the Catalans, Pacha Espino could only fire over.
Though there was little in the way of attacking intent from the hosts in the closing stages, they held on for their 15th successive victory in LaLiga at Camp Nou. The loss for Rayo means that their poor recent away record (D3, L6) continues.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joan Garcia (Barcelona)