Live Commentary: Barcelona 3-1 Rayo Vallecano - as it happened

Barcelona reopened a seven-point lead at the top of La Liga courtesy of a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on Saturday night.

Atletico Madrid cut the gap to four points ahead of kickoff in Catalonia by overcoming Leganes, but Barca came from behind to beat Rayo on home soil courtesy of goals from Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.

7.22pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barca coming from behind to beat Rayo as they move seven points clear at the top of the table. Can Atletico Madrid stop them retaining the title? Time will tell! Thanks for joining our coverage once again!

FULL TIME:

90+3 minBARCELONA 3-1 RAYO VALLECANO

90+1 minWe are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the match.

YELLOW CARD!

90 minImbula (Rayo Vallecano) is booked for a foul on Messi.

89 minBarca search for more goals as they continue to pass and probe here.

CLOSE!

87 minMessi's free kick from distance just misses the Rayo crossbar!

86 minBARCELONA SUB! Malcolm replaces Busquets for the home side.

85 minRakitic continues to be involved in the final third and this time slides a pass into Messi, but Galvez is on hand to make a fine, last-ditch challenge. Still 3-1 to the home side here.

83 minThat is game, set and match! Luis Suarez finds the back of the net from close range following a clever pass from Rakitic inside the box. Rayo's challenge in this match is finished.

GOAL!

82 minBARCELONA 3-1 RAYO VALLECANO (LUIS SUAREZ)

80 minBARCELONA SUB! Rakitic replaces Coutinho for Barcelona.

80 minRAYO VALLECANO SUB! Embarba replaces Garcia for the away side.

YELLOW CARD!

80 minBusquets (Barcelona) is booked for a poor challenge on Imbula.

80 minRakitic will soon enter the field and that might well be for Coutinho, who has again really, really struggled to make his mark. It just isn't happening for the Brazilian at the moment.

78 minRayo have a throw deep in Barca's half as Bebe's cross is touched by Alba.

76 minLuis Suarez does really well to break clear inside the Rayo box before delivering back to Coutinho, but Comesana is on hand to fire behind his own crossbar for a corner kick.

74 minLuis Suarez beats the offside trap and looks to break into the Rayo box, but the striker does not have the pace and Galvez is on hand to make the clearance. Still 2-1 to the home side.

72 minRayo are still in this football match, but are struggling to even get in Barca's half of the field at the moment. At 2-1, though, the visitors will always be in it. Little under 20 to play here.

CLOSE!

70 min... Messi's free kick is headed over his own crossbar by Moreno!

69 minBarca have a free kick just outside the Rayo box here...

YELLOW CARD!

69 minVelazquez (Rayo Vallecano) is booked for a foul on Luis Suarez.

68 minAlvaro drags a shot wide of the Barca post, but the flag had already been raised.

67 minI would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals tonight, particularly with Rayo starting to open up as they chase a leveller. Still more than 20 minutes of football to play here.

65 minRAYO VALLECANO SUB! Pozo replaces Amat for the away side.

65 minCoutinho has a strike blocked outside the box as Barca continue to dominate. Rayo just had the chance to break through De Tomas, but the striker lost his footing at the vital moment.

63 minRayo just cannot get out of their own half at the moment as Barca pass and probe.

61 minRayo are preparing to make a change as Pozo receives his instructions here.

SAVE!

60 minDecent save from the Rayo goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Messi.

58 minSemedo delivers a dangerous cross into the Rayo box, but Galvez again makes a smart clearance. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and the score remains 2-1.

56 minRayo do have a lot of attacking talent on their bench and it might not be too long before their manager decides to make a change. Bebe, in particular, is struggling at the moment.

54 minRayo are really struggling at the moment as they continue to lose the ball. Dembele has just burst clear in a wide position before delivering a low cross, but Galvez made the clearance.

52 minBarca take the lead at Camp Nou as Messi slots his penalty into the bottom corner!

GOAL!

51 minBARCELONA 2-1 RAYO VALLECANO (MESSI, PEN)

PENALTY!

50 minBarca have a spot kick as Amat brings Semedo to the deck!

50 minYou do get the feeling that Rayo need to score the next goal to stand a chance of picking up a positive result. If Barca score a second soonish it could become a 4-1, 5-1 match quite easily.

48 minBright start to the second period from the away side as Imbula breaks into a wide position before delivering a low cross towards De Tomas, but Ter Stegen makes the claim.

46 min... BARCELONA SUBS! Dembele replaces Arthur for the home side.

KICKOFF:

46 minRayo resume the action at Camp Nou...

6.29pmBENCH WATCH! Barca are not exactly short of quality on their bench, with Alena, Dembele, Rakitic and Malcom all capable of making a difference in the second period. Rayo, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Embarba, Trejo and Mario Suarez, who were all expected to start here.

6.24pmSTATISTICS! Barca had 70% of the ball in the first period, managing four shots on target from seven attempts. Rayo, meanwhile, hit the target with just one of their two attempts, but it found the back of the net. No bookings to report - it has just not been that type of football match.

6.19pmSo there we have it; the referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. De Tomas sent Rayo ahead with a wonderful effort in the 24th minute, but Pique drew Barca level from a Messi free kick. All to play for ahead of the second 45 minutes of action here.

HALF TIME:

45+2 minBARCELONA 1-1 RAYO VALLECANO

CHANCE!

45 minMessi dances into the Rayo box and looks to pull the trigger, but he is just crowded out at the vital moment. Galvez was the player who managed to clear at the final moment.

43 minRayo really need to get to half time without conceding a second, which would boost Barca following a largely poor first-half performance. All Barca at the moment here.

41 minRayo's goalkeeper has had a bit of treatment, but he looks fine to continue here.

40 minAll square! Barca level the scores in the 39th minute as Pique heads a Messi free kick into the back of the net. Not too sure about the goalkeeper - he was nowhere near it!

GOAL!

39 minBARCELONA 1-1 RAYO VALLECANO (PIQUE)

SHOT!

39 minMessi's strike from outside the Rayo box is high and wide of the target.

38 minNot an awful lot happening at the moment. Will Valverde already be considering Dembele? Coutinho has really struggled this season and he is having another horror show here.

36 minAlba is penalised for a push on Imbula and Rayo can ease some of the pressure, which has been building over the last few minutes. De Tomas's strike remains the difference here.

34 minMessi finds Luis Suarez inside the Rayo box and the latter looks to return the favour, but the ball trickles along the box before being cleared for a corner, which is cleared by Galvez.

CHANCE!

32 min... huge chance for Pique as the centre-back meets Messi's free kick, but his effort is wide!

32 minBarca have a free kick in a dangerous area as Velazquez brings Luis Suarez to the deck...

31 minAll Barca in terms of possession, but they are not creating much at all. To be honest, there is absolutely no atmosphere inside the stadium which cannot help the hosts tonight.

29 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Rayo - yes Rayo - lead at Camp Nou. Barca have been disappointing and the visitors have taken full advantage of that here.

27 minVidal is still limping following a challenge earlier in the match and it remains to be seen whether the midfielder will last too much longer. There is no point taking any risks here.

25 minOh my word! That is some goal! Rayo take a shock lead at Camp Nou as De Tomas works some space outside the Barca box before curling a wonderful effort into the bottom corner!

GOAL!

24 minBARCELONA 0-1 RAYO VALLECANO (DE TOMAS)

SAVE!

24 minAnother save from the Rayo goalkeeper as he keeps out Coutinho's effort. It was a fine move from Barca, but the Brazilian's final effort was really disappointing!

SAVE!

24 minDecent save from the Rayo goalkeeper to keep out a header from Messi.

24 minNot many gave Rayo too much of a prayer at Camp Nou this weekend, but Los Vallecanos came close to triumphing in the reverse match earlier this season, with Barca needing two goals in the final three minutes to record a 3-2 success. The visitors have started well tonight.

22 minMessi releases Semedo with a fine ball and the right-back manages to touch it into a dangerous position, but Galvez is on hand to make the clearance. Good defending!

22 minRayo spent five straight seasons in La Liga between 2011 and 2016 before dropping into the Segunda Division. They finished a disappointing 12th in the second tier at the end of the 2016-17 season, but secured a return to La Liga by winning the league last term. Still all square here.

20 minHaving suffered five straight defeats in La Liga, the last thing that Rayo needed at this stage of the campaign was a trip to the Spanish champions. Rayo's league form between December 23 and January 28 was excellent - winning four of their five matches and remaining unbeaten in the process. It was a run of results that moved them out of the relegation zone, but they have struggled in recent weeks.

18 minSo far, so good for Rayo. Barca have dominated the play, but aside from that Messi free kick from a wide position, chances have been few and far between. Not the best tempo here.

16 minThe Catalan giants have incredibly won all 11 of their previous top-flight fixtures, including a 5-2 home success when they last met at Camp Nou in October 2015. Rayo ran Barca extremely close in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with the capital outfit leading 2-1 into the final minutes before Dembele and Luis Suarez struck for the visitors. Barca are putting the pressure on now.

14 minBarca are the huge favourites to triumph against Rayo for obvious reasons, but they have conceded 15 home league goals this season, dropping points in four of their 13 fixtures at Camp Nou, which will hand the visitors a little bit of hope. Still goalless with 14 minutes on the clock.

12 minBarca win a free kick just outside the Rayo box as the away side's goalkeeper handles outside his area, but Messi sees his delivery clawed away before Galvez makes a smart block.

10 minNot an awful lot happening at the moment; to be honest, the atmosphere is not great as it is far from a full stadium. Still waiting for the first bit of excitement in this La Liga contest.

8 minAnother domestic double looks on as Valencia wait in the Copa del Rey final, but there is absolutely no question that the Champions League is the trophy Barca really want this term. Valverde's team will host Lyon next Wednesday in the second leg of their last-16 tie, which is level at 0-0 following the reverse game in France. They have a job to do tonight first, though.

6 minIt could be a historic campaign for Barca as they continue to challenge on three fronts. Indeed, they beat Real Madrid last weekend to move onto 60 points and that victory came three days after a 3-0 success away to Los Blancos, which saw the Catalan giants make yet another Copa del Rey final.

4 minBarca's lead at the summit has been cut to four points with Atletico Madrid beating Leganes 1-0 earlier this afternoon. The title race is not done and dusted, but it would be a huge surprise if the gap was not back to seven points in around an hour and a half here.

2 min... as expected, Barca have taken control of the early possession. Rayo, as expected, are in a 5-4-1 formation with Bebe and Garcia lining up in the wide positions. It could be a long night!

KICKOFF:

0 minBarca kick things off in front of their own supporters...

5.29pmHere we go then; both sets of players are on the pitch and kickoff at Camp Nou is next!

5.28pmAs for Rayo, centre-back Abdoulaye Ba is suspended following his red card in their 2-0 home defeat to Girona last time out, while midfielder Gorka Elustondo will miss out through injury. On-loan Real Madrid forward is Raul de Tomas is Rayo's top scorer this season with 10 goals, and the Spaniard will lead the away side's line with support from former Manchester United attacker Bebe.

5.27pmBarca have a huge Champions League game against Lyon next week, but head coach Ernesto Valverde has selected a strong XI tonight. Clement Lenglet is suspended, though, which sees Samuel Umtiti start alongside Gerard Pique at the back. There is also a spot in the final third for Philippe Coutinho, with the Brazilian getting the nod alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack.

5.26pmTEAMS! BARCA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, Arthur; Coutinho, L Suarez, Messi RAYO: Dimitrievski; Advincula, Velazquez, Galvez, Amat, Moreno; A Garcia, Comesana, Imbula, Bebe; De Tomas

5.25pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the La Liga clash between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano from Camp Nou. As it stands, Barca have a four-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid at the summit, while Rayo are 19th in the table having only collected 23 points from their 26 league fixtures this term. Stay tuned for live updates!

Live Commentary: Barcelona 3-1 Rayo Vallecano - as it happened

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