Rayo Vallecano 1 Barcelona 1: Barcelona Soundly Subdued at Vallecas

Image - FC Barcelona

The thing about Flickball is that when it’s good, it's incredible; edge-of-your-seat stuff, spellbinding, a blurring poetry in motion, where each part feeds into the next like a well-told story, a perfect picture. The other thing about Flickball, though, is that when it’s bad, it's absolutely terrible; disjointed, unrefined, and a complete mess of paint on the canvas.

I know many Culers will agree with me when I say that we are yet to really see the best of Flickball this season, and today was when the Blaugrana were almost duly punished for what was a very uninspired, insipid, and dreadful performance. Honestly, Barca were lucky to leave Vallecas with a point because this was a pounding.

Rayo’s Gameplan

Rayo came here with a game plan, which they executed to perfection. Knowing that Barcelona’s highline was uncompromising, they relied heavily on putting men on Barcelona’s fullbacks, knowing that they would be isolated as the front four pressed and the midfield two of Pedri and De Jong were dragged ballside.

And it worked. Rayo fashioned some great chances or almost chances through quickly switching play down the flanks and having their wingers, fullbacks, and even midfielders make the second and third runs, ensuring that they had a threat even when the initial runner would be offside. They threatened, and Barcelona failed to heed.

Yet, for all of this work, it was Barcelona who grabbed the lead in controversial circumstances. Rayo leftback, Pep Chavarria, bumped into Lamine Yamal in the penalty box with the ball already away from the child prodigy, and the referee pointed to the spot. Incredibly, VAR was not working, and hence the decision could not be reviewed, allowing it to stand. In the letter of the law, it is a penalty, but I can’t help but think that if the referee had had a second view of the action, he probably would have overturned his initial decision.

Little matter. Lamine Yamal struck an excellent penalty down the middle to put Barca 1-0 up. It was a penalty that dwarfed his young years, because that is a penalty some experienced players would struggle to score with such poise and ease.

Overwhelmed

But if you expected that to kickstart a Barcelona swarm, you would be mistaken. Rayo Vallecano completely refused to back down and instead continued pushing Barcelona back. It was their high press, their incredible mid-block, that did not allow Pedri or De Jong to weave their magic in and around their penalty box. It was Alvaro Garcia dropping deep to help Chavarria double up on Yamal to neutralize his threat. Ciss would also sometimes join and make it a triple team against the teenage sensation. It was Rayo being precise where Barcelona was imprecise; decisive where Barcelona hesitated. It was Isi, Alvaro Garcia, and Pathe Ciss showing up, while Kounde, Raphinha, and Eric Garcia didn't.

They equalized through Fran Perez, who somehow found himself unmarked from a corner and headed home, with Barcelona’s defense caught sleeping.

The thing about this team is that it has become extremely heavily reliant on Lamine Yamal and Pedri. Take those two out of the game, as Rayo did, and Barca has no teeth. Flickball is halted dead on its tracks. Christensen did well in defense, but Kounde and Eric Garcia looked miles off it. Raphinha had one of his worst games for Barca, whether it was in his passing, decision-making, or general play. Ferran Torres played his typical game – ineffective and anonymous, but showing that willingness that makes many coaches rate him highly and think they can get more out of him.

But, Barcelona’s standout player was Joan Garcia. It has been years since Barcelona had a reliable, nay, a more than reliable keeper; a super keeper in goal. Joan Garcia, ladies and gentlemen, is HIM. Shot after shot, exposed by Barcelona’s ludicrous high line and completely shambolic defensive shape (if ever there is one), the towering keeper showed why he his highly rated in Spain, pulling off save after save to keep Barcelona in the game. Without him, this game is an easy 3/4-1 win for Rayo.

Perfectly normal for a Barca keeper to have more saves than the opposite keeper - says no culer.

Ultimately, this is one of those games to forget quickly and hope that the poor nature of the stadium grass, which looked like an Iberian grazing field, was the cause of this performance that made my eyes bleed.

This wasn’t just a bad game from Barca; this was a slap in the face, a performance that makes you look in the mirror and ask, ‘Why do I enjoy this sport again?’ Hopefully, it is a lesson for Flick and the players, because we have seen them at their free-flowing best, and this is not it.

Visca Barca!