Barcelona's Flick Defends VAR Amid Controversial Win Over Rayo Vallecano

In a controversial 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick defended the use of VAR after a series of contentious decisions during the La Liga match. Robert Lewandowski scored the decisive penalty following a lengthy VAR review of a foul that went unnoticed by the referee, while Rayo Vallecano expressed frustration over being denied a penalty and an equalizer by Jorge de Frutos, whose goal was disallowed. Flick emphasized his belief in VAR and praised his team's performance despite the challenges posed by Rayo, who had been in good form prior to the match. The result allowed Barcelona to ascend to the top of La Liga, level on points with Real Madrid but leading on goal difference, as Atletico Madrid trails closely behind. This match has further fueled the ongoing debate about refereeing standards in Spain, with Real Madrid also having their share of complaints regarding officiating. Rayo's defeat marked an end to their nine-match unbeaten streak in the league, leaving them sixth in the standings.