Robert Lewandowski Penalty Sends Barcelona to La Liga Summit

Robert Lewandowski 28th-minute penalty secured Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, taking them to the top of La Liga. Barcelona, unbeaten in 12 matches in 2025, capitalized on Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid 1-1 draws. Rayo, who were on a 10-match unbeaten streak, saw their impressive run ended.

In the Spanish Liga match on February 17, 2025, Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. This marked his 20th goal of the season, helping Barcelona climb to the top of the league table.

Three weeks ago, Barcelona was seven points behind first place, but with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid struggling—both drawing 1-1 on Saturday—the Catalan club capitalized on their rivals’ poor form. Despite Rayo goalkeeper Pep Chavarria’s impressive saves, Lewandowski’s penalty, which deflected off the post, proved enough to seal the win.

Barcelona’s defence held firm, nullifying Rayo’s late threats, including a disallowed goal from Jorge de Frutos and a missed header in stoppage time. This victory extended Barcelona’s unbeaten streak in 2025 to 12 matches while ending Rayo’s 10-game unbeaten run, which had lifted them to sixth place.

Coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the difficulty of the match but expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and league position. Barcelona fullback Alex Balde emphasized the importance of grinding out wins, acknowledging that not every match can be a dominant victory.