Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano: Winners and Losers from La Liga Game
Barcelona moved top of La Liga on Sunday by smashing Rayo Vallecano 6-1 at Camp Nou.
Luis Suarez opened the scoring with a superb effort after just five minutes, and the Blaugrana took over after half-time and scored the goals to prove their dominance. Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick, Suarez got his second and Gerard Pique swept home from close range to continue his fine goalscoring season.
Ahead, B/R picks its winners and losers from the action.
Loser: Abdoulaye Ba, Who Struggled Against Almighty Opposition
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Abdoulaye Ba did not enjoy his day's work on Sunday. He was pulled around and beaten incessantly by one of the best attacking outfits in the world.
He fouled Luis Suarez in the box and should have been red-carded in the first half but somehow survived, and his rash defending continued as he consistently lost his marker and let Luis Suarez and Co. run free.
Positionally, he was dreadful.
Winner: Luis Suarez, Man of the Match and All-Round Brilliant Performer
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Luis Suarez scored twice, won a penalty (and should have won another) and saw another shot saved for Lionel Messi to tap home immediately after. Despite this telling impact in front of goal, his performance could actually be considered profligate given the amount of chances he also missed and squandered.
He was at the heart of absolutely everything, and on another day he might have finished with a hat-trick of goals and a hat-trick of assists. With 13 strikes for the season—and six in his last four matches—he's hotting up at the right time as Barcelona's treble challenge kicks on.
He is no flop, and as ESPNFC's Dermot Corrigan notes, he was only ever really guilty of trying to be too helpful and selfless for his teammates.
Loser: Tito, Who Also Had a Day to Forget
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Tito was targeted throughout the game, and he kept letting Pedro waltz through on goal early. Luckily for him, the Spaniard was in terrible decision-making form in the final third.
He grabbed a yellow card for essentially clotheslining his marker at one stage, and he later hauled Luis Suarez over in the box to give away a penalty, which Lionel Messi converted at the second attempt.
Tito won't look back at this one with any pride.
Winner: Xavi, Who Bossed the Midfield with Ease
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Rayo Vallecano made it easy for Xavi, holding a high defensive line and inviting runners beyond, but you can't mark him down for simply taking advantage and enjoying the space afforded.
Whenever Rayo's pressing broke down and the Spaniard was on the ball, it spelt trouble for the visitors. His crisp passing, dropping dimes in for Pedro, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to chase, proved he's still got it and can be a very strong situational player.
Loser: Pedro, Who Flunked His Big Chance
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With Neymar suspended, this was Pedro's big chance to give his manager something to think about—particularly with the Clasico and a tie with Manchester City coming up.
He failed, miserably, to make a positive impression.
Pedro's decline this season has been well documented and thoroughly commented on by Barcelona fans. Across 90 minutes against Rayo Vallecano, he spurned chance after chance to get himself on the scoresheet and extend Barca's lead.
He was a headless chicken in the final third. All of his runs beyond the defensive line amounted to nothing as his team-mates' frustration grew.
Winner: Lionel Messi, Who Caught Cristiano Ronaldo in the Charts
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Lionel Messi did very little in the first half, with Xavi taking over the passing game, Pedro breaching beyond and Luis Suarez at the heart of everything positive.
But out of nowhere, the Argentine bagged himself a 12-minute hat-trick in the second period, converting a penalty and a tap-in before firing a wonderful third home.
The goals draw him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga—both now have 30 for the season, per WhoScored.com—and reignites a tense race for the Pichichi Trophy. He also set hat-trick records, including the most in La Liga history, which was previously held by Ronaldo.
