Barcelona kept their perfect start to the La Liga season alive with a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano, moving onto nine points after three wins out of three. The result also leaves Barcelona and Real Madrid level at the top of the FC Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano standings picture, with Rayo Vallecano on one point.
It was not a straightforward night for Barcelona, who started late because of the number of World Cup players in their squad and had to squeeze three league fixtures into eight days. Rayo Vallecano struck first through Sergio Camello's first-time effort, but Barcelona responded quickly when Raphinha levelled after some good footwork.
Lamine Yamal then took control of the game. The Barcelona forward put his side ahead with a piledriver from just inside the box, and he later added the fifth goal in injury time. That late strike also took him to 51st goal in all competitions, and the report noted that in 2014-15 and later he became the youngest player from any team in the top five leagues to pass 50 goals in all competitions.
Barcelona's third goal came in unusual fashion, with Florian Lejeune scoring an own goal from Anthony Gordon's cross. Rayo Vallecano did briefly close the gap again when Sergio Camello scored his second of the match, but Barcelona answered once more when Anthony Gordon's backheel found Raphinha for the fourth goal.
What the result means
The final score was 5-2, and the standings are straightforward: Barcelona are on nine points, Real Madrid are also on nine, and Rayo Vallecano remain on one point. For Barcelona, it is a clean early-season statement rather than a perfect performance, but the result still matters because it keeps them right where they want to be after three league games.
There is also a clear individual storyline here. Raphinha has now scored five goals in the first three La Liga games of the season, becoming the first player since Lionel Messi for Barcelona in 2017 to do so. Combined with Lamine Yamal's two-goal night, Barcelona already have a forward line producing at a high level as the season opens.
