Barcelona regained top spot in La Liga this evening courtesy of a 2-0 victory over nine-man Rayo Vallecano.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break with a classy goal, while Neymar added a second just a minute later to complete a quickfire double.
Morcillo and Javier Aquino both received their marching orders after the break having picked up two yellow cards apiece, but Rayo managed to keep the scores down despite a flurry of Barcelona chances.
You can read how it all unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's match as Rayo Vallecano host Barcelona, who topped the table going into the weekend having dropped just two points this season.
KICKOFF: Barcelona get us underway in Madrid as they look to regain top spot in La Liga following Valencia's win over Atletico earlier today.
Barcelona have taken early control of this match here. They are controlling the ball in the opening exchanges and have already strung together a number of nice moves in the final third.
Mathieu's role in the team has changed slightly this afternoon, with the summer signing being deployed on the left flank as opposed to his usual central role. That means that Pique is able to come back into the side having been out of favour so far this season.
Better from Rayo now as they start to get on the ball themselves. They have held their own so far, but there have been a few gaps opening up in their defence already.
Messi lifts a clever ball over the top towards Mathieu, who has time his run to perfection down the left to arrive in the box. However, Neymar hasn't quite beaten the offside trap, and his touch raises the flag.
SAVE! Bueno steals away from his man on the edge of the box and finds space to shoot. He fires a low effort towards the bottom corner, but Bravo gets down really well to make a superb stop and maintain Barcelona's perfect defensive record this season.
YELLOW CARD! Xavi becomes the first player in the book for a handball as he stuck his elbow out to stop Kakuta getting past him on the edge of the box.
Rayo are playing a very high line in this one, which is a dangerous tactic against a side like Barcelona. It has worked well so far, with Neymar being caught offside on a couple of occasions, but it will only take one well-timed run to open them up.
Half a chance for the hosts as Baptistao does well to keep the ball in in the corner. His cross picks out Bueno, whose header is tame and easy for Bravo.
CHANCE! Big chance for Barcelona to take the lead as Neymar lifts the ball over the defence for Messi, who is bursting into the box. The Argentine takes it down on his chest before shooting, but Tono is out quickly to make a really good save.
Bravo is only a matter of minutes away from breaking the La Liga record for length of time without conceding a goal. It really has been a superb defensive start to the season for Barcelona, and it looks like they may get that record here.
YELLOW CARD! Ba goes into the book for a terrible challenge on Messi, who had skipped past the defender. Ba had been caught in possession by Neymar, who released Messi, but he was stopped in his tracks by a scything tackle.
It really does only seem like a matter of time before Barcelona break through this Ray defence. They aren't playing badly at the moment, but there is so much space behind them that the likes of Neymar and Messi can exploit.
There is the record! Barcelona have avoided conceding at the start of the season for longer than any other side in La Liga history. Speaking of records, Messi is nearing the all-time La Liga scoring record and could reach it today with a hat-trick.
Rayo are struggling to get hold of the ball for any length of time right now. That isn't dampening the atmosphere inside the stadium, however, as the Rayo fans continue to make a great noise.
Good goalkeeping from Tono as he claims a pass from Mathieu that Neymar was threatening to get on the end of. Again, there was space behind the Rayo defence, but Barcelona were once again unable to take advantage.
A good ball down the right threatens to release Baptistao, but Bartra is there in close attendance. The two go shoulder to shoulder and Baptistao sends Bartra sprawling to the floo. The referee rules it to be a foul, although the Rayo man has been harshly done by there.
The final ball is just a couple of yards off for Barcelona right now. Again Neymar looks to slide a ball through for Xavi running from deep, but he puts just too much on it and it runs out for a goal kick.
Mathieu has made a number of marauding runs down the left already this afternoon, and he is playing like more of a winger right now. He and Neymar have found space on that wing a few times, and that looks to be the most likely avenue for a Barcelona goal.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Yet again the Rayo defence are holding their line on the halfway line, and Messi races through behind them. He slides his finish unerringly into the bottom corner, but the linesman's flag is up so it won't count.
YELLOW CARD! Trashorras talks his way into the referee's notebook having questioned the linesman about a free kick call.
GOAL! Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Barcelona (Lionel Messi)
I mentioned the space behind the Rayo defence potentially being a problem, and that is the case here as a long ball from Pique beats the entire backline. Messi races onto it, controlling it with his head before lifting his effort over Tono. That is a brilliant finish.
GOAL! Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Barcelona (Neymar)
Barcelona have a second in the space of a minute! A long ball forward is flicked on by Munir into the path of Neymar, who takes himself a little wide before finding the bottom corner with an accurate finish. What a couple of minutes for the visitors!
What have Rayo got in reply? They have not played too badly so far today, but as long as they leave so much space behind then they are always going to concede. There are a few more goals in this one for Barca.
Xavi is slipped in down the right channel and plays a dangerous cross into the area. Neymar had gone towards the near post, but the cross was aimed towards the back one and subsequently runs away to safety.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Barcelona to add a third! Another Pique ball forward beats the entire defence, and this time Munir has timed his run well. He has Neymar by him in a two-on-one situation and could simply slide the ball to the Brazilian for an easy finish, but he chooses to go himself and is brought down by the keeper. No penalty is given, however, and a glorious opening goes begging.
As ever, Barcelona are doing such a good job off the ball as well as on it. They are not giving Rayo any time in possession, winning the ball back soon after losing it almost every single time.
HALF TIME: Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Barcelona
The referee brings an end to an entertaining first half, and it is Barcelona who go into the break ahead courtesy of a quickfire double 10 minutes before the interval. The visitors have controlled large periods of the match and deserve their lead, but Rayo have not made things easy for them. The hosts have had their moments, but still find themselves with a mountain to climb in the second half.
The opening goal came from Messi as he edged ever closer to the La Liga scoring record, and it was a typically classy strike from the Argentine. He raced onto a Pique ball forward before knocking the ball down with his head and lifting his finish over the keeper. Neymar added a second just a minute later with an accurate finish into the bottom corner having been released by Munir.
In truth, it could have been more for the visitors. Rayo are playing with a very high line, which is leaving acres of space behind the defence for the likes of Munir, Messi and Neymar to run into. The final ball has been a little awry on occasions from Barcelona, but if they begin to get it right more often then there are plenty more goals in this one for Luis Enrique's side.
Munir should have created a third goal for his side shortly before half time when he went through on goal following another Pique pass. He had Neymar in support and should have passed to the Brazilian, who would have had a simple tap in had his teammate been unselfish. However, the youngster opted to go alone and couldn't make the most of a glorious opportunity.
Messi has also had a chance that he may have expected to score, although that was more down to a fine save from Tono. The Rayo keeper was quick off his line and gave Messi no chance to squeeze an effort past him as he thwarted a powerful effort from the right channel.
Rayo's best moment came inside the opening 10 minutes as Bueno fired a low strike towards goal that Bravo got down really well to turn wide. That help protect Barcelona's clean sheet, and Bravo now holds the record for longest time without conceding a goal at the start of a La Liga season. He needed to pass the 20-minute mark to do that, and in truth he hasn't been tested too much since that early stop.
KICKOFF: Rayo get us underway for the second half, and there has been a change at the break for the hosts. Manucho is the man who has come on, replacing Ba.
Decent start to the half for Barcelona as they reassume control of the match straight away. Munir wins a free kick for the visitors in a dangerous crossing position...
...but Messi's delivery is well claimed by Tono inside the box. That was a waste of a decent position.
There was, in fact, two changes at the break, with Javier Aquino replacing Lica as well. The hosts just have one change left in this second half, then.
Decent opening for Rayo as Aquino plays a cross into the box. Bueno rises well to get his head onto the delivery, but he can only plant his effort wide. He probably should have done better there to be honest.
SAVE! Rayo threaten once again here as Bueno peels away from his marker to get onto an Insua delivery. He has his back to goal, but tries flicking his header towards the far corner, only for Bravo to make a diving stop.
This has been a good spell for the hosts here. They are beginning to see more of the ball and are playing with it in more dangerous areas too. They also seem to have addressed their defensive issue, which is making it harder for Barca to get in behind.
CLOSE! Almost a third goal for Barcelona as Xavi's corner is met by an unmarked Pique. The defender gets a good connection on his header, but can't steer it on target as it ripples the top of the net on its way behind.
A couple of efforts in quick succession from the visitors as first Munir goes for goal with an ambitious strike that is straight at the keeper, while Iniesta attempted a volley that went wide shortly afterwards.
GREAT SAVE! Bravo just will not be beaten! He makes another superb stop to maintain Barcelona's clean sheet record, reacting brilliantly to deny Baptistao. It was a powerful strike from the attacker, but he found a goalkeeper in inspired form.
BARCELONA SUB: Munir's afternoon is over as the youngster makes way to be replaced by Pedro for the final 30 minutes.
YELLOW CARD! Morcillo is the latest name in the book for Rayo.
YELLOW CARD! Another card, this time for Aquino as he slides in and trips Neymar. No complaints there.
RED CARD! Morcillo (Rayo Vallecano)
That yellow card a couple of minutes ago was actually Morcillo's second, and he was given his marching orders as a result. Rayo must play the final half an hour or so of this one with 10 men against a very strong Barcelona outfit.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Barcelona to put this game to bed once and for all. The ball is slid inside for Mathieu on the left flank, and he plays a low ball across the face of goal. Messi is arriving at the back post, but he can't get enough on his shot to turn it in as Trashorras gets it clear.
SAVE! The ball breaks to Iniesta in the box as Barcelona continue to flood forward, but his snapshot is comfortably saved by Tono.
BARCELONA SUB: The visitors make a change as Iniesta goes off to be replaced by Ivan Rakitic.
CHANCE! Barca are just queuing up right now as they continue to push for a third goal. Messi floats a pass over to Rakitic on the right side of the area, but the sub's powerful strike is straight at the keeper, who beats it away.
YELLOW CARD! Pique enters the book, and he can have no complaints after tugging his man back cynically.
RAYO SUB: Trashorras becomes Rayo's third and final change as he is replaced by Jozabed.
I would be surprised if this one ended 2-0 to be honest. Barcelona are in complete control and are almost attacking at will against the 10 men of Rayo. They haven't been able to make their numerical advantage count so far, but surely it is only a matter of time now.
Mathieu has been very impressive in his new role on the left this evening. He has been up and down the flank all night, giving Barcelona an extra body in attack at all times. He could well find himself being deployed at left-back more often following this display.
BARCELONA SUB: The visitors make another change here as Neymar, scorer of the second goal, is replaced by Sandro.
CHANCE! Another chance for Barcelona as Bartra attacks a corner at the front post, glancing his header over the top. He got a full run at that and probably should have done better having reached it.
CHANCE! Yet another opening for Luis Enrique's side as Messi carries the ball forward. Barca have five against three, and work it quite well as Messi slips his pass to Pedro. The ball back across goes to Xavi, who knocks it back to Messi, but the Argentine's finish is unusually poor as he puts his shot over the top.
CHANCE! What's going on with Messi?! That is now two poor finishes in a row! Again Barcelona come forward and Messi lines up a defender in the box before beating him with ease. He lashes a shot towards goal with his right foot, but he can't keep it down as it sails over the top.
Decent spell for Rayo here as they finally get the ball at the other end of the field for a couple of minutes. It has been very tough for the hosts since they were reduced to 10 men.
Kakuta comes down the left wing before cutting a good ball right back across the edge of the box. Bueno gets onto the end of it, but his effort is poor as he fires it a long way over the bar.
CLOSE! Sandro wins a free kick in a very dangerous position, and it is Xavi who takes the shooting duties. The skipper curls it over the wall, but it just doesn't dip enough.
CHANCE! Messi could have had a hat-trick in this second half, but again he misses here. Pique lifted the ball into the box for the Argentine, who caught it sweetly on the volley, only to fire his effort over the top.
RED CARD! Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano)
Rayo are reduced to nine men in the closing stages here as Aquino gets a second yellow card for a foul on Busquets. The scoreline certainly could have been worse for the hosts here, but the two suspensions may prove to be more damaging than the result.
FULL TIME: Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Barcelona
The referee brings an end to the match, and it is a routine three points for Barcelona against a Rayo side that ended the match with nine men. In truth, the hosts gave as good as they got for long periods when it was 11 vs. 11, but two goals in as many minutes in the first half proved enough for Luis Enrique's side to ease to a comfortable victory. It could have, and probably should have, been more too.
That is all we have time for this evening I'm afraid! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an entertaining match as Barcelona regain top spot in La Liga and maintain their incredible record of still not having conceded a goal in the league this season. Stick around for our match report, while analysis and player ratings will also be up on site soon. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
