Barcelona's Controversial Win Sparks VAR Debate, Offside Goal Disallowed

In a controversial La Liga match, Barcelona defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Robert Lewandowski, but the game was marred by contentious officiating decisions. Rayo Vallecano had a goal by Jorge de Frutos disallowed just before half-time, which sparked outrage among players and fans, who believed he was onside. VAR intervened, ruling the goal offside due to teammate Randy Nteka's interference with Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez. The match also featured a penalty awarded to Barcelona after a VAR review of a foul that the referee initially missed. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick defended the VAR process, stating his support for its use despite the controversy surrounding the decisions. This result positioned Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings, while Rayo Vallecano faced their first league defeat since early December, remaining sixth in the table.