Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Spotify Nou Camp, moving seven points clear at the top of the table.
The decisive moment came midway through the first half when Ronald Araujo powered home a header from a Joao Cancelo corner after 24 minutes.
Despite taking the lead, Barcelona were nearly caught out immediately at the start of the match, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia reacted quickly to deny Carlos Martin from close range - a miss that proved costly for the visitors.
Chances were limited in a relatively subdued first half, though Raphinha came close to doubling the advantage with a deflected strike that forced Augusto Batalla into tipping the ball onto the crossbar.
Rayo improved after the break and pushed for an equaliser, with Unai Lopez denied by a superb save from Garcia, who proved crucial in preserving Barcelona’s lead.
Late on, Pacha Espino sent a curling effort over the bar as the hosts held on for a vital three points.
The win extends Barcelona’s lead at the summit, increasing the pressure on Real Madrid, who face Atletico Madrid later in the day.
Manager Hansi Flick will now turn his attention to a crucial run of fixtures after the international break, including a league clash against Atletico and a Champions League quarter-final showdown between the sides.
With narrow victories proving decisive at this stage of the season, Barcelona’s ability to grind out results could be key in their pursuit of the title.
