Soccer Football - LaLiga - Rayo Vallecano v FC Barcelona - Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain - November 25, 2023 FC Barcelona's Pedri in action with Rayo Vallecano's Alfonso Espino REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
(Reuters) -Barcelona rescued a point with a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday thanks to a late second-half own-goal by defender Florian Lejeune.
The LaLiga champions are third in the standings on 31 points, one behind second-placed Real Madrid and three back from surprise leaders Girona, both of whom have a game in hand.
They could be leapfrogged by fourth placed Atletico Madrid who, on 28 points, have two games in hand and will host lowly Mallorca later on Saturday.
Impacted by injuries to key players such as goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and midfielder Gavi, who suffered an ACL tear in Spain's win against Georgia, Barca manager Xavi Hernandez made six changes to the team selection that fought back to win 2-1 against lowly Alaves in their previous game but his side kept struggling.
Rayo started the game on top and outclassed last season's champions throughout the first half before opening the scoring with a brilliant strike from range by midfielder Unai Lopez in the 39th minute.
After Barca's defence blocked two efforts from their rivals in a crowded penalty box following a free kick, Lopez pounced on a loose ball from a rebound and fired just inside the left post.
Barca came back with urgency after the break and equalised thanks to a mistake by Rayo defender Lejeune, who sent the ball into his own net with the tip of his boot as he tried to clear a cross in the 82nd minute.
"We didn't play well, we weren't at our level. We have to work harder," midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who returned to the starting line-up after missing 10 games through injury, told Movistar Plus.
"We have a good team, the plan is good, everyone ran as much as they could, but we have to be consistent. We have a lot of injuries, it's true, but there is a lot of season left to bounce back."
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; editing by Hugh Lawson and Pritha Sarkar)
