The new era at Barcelona began with a goalless draw. Rayo Vallecano pressed early, and Barcelona, despite showing moments of merit in play and luck after the break, could not convert their superiority into a win. The Catalan club kicked off a fresh project, but the performance at Spotify Camp Nou came in at a subdued pace, not meeting the heightened expectations from pre-season chatter.
Rayo looked bold at the start, clearly pushing Barcelona to the edge, yet as minutes passed the visitors settled in. Barca grew more persistent going forward but lacked precision in the final pass, and the best chances remained sparse as the match wore on.
Lewandowski opened his scoring account with an early effort that was disallowed after a close offside call involving Dembélé. Barely twelve minutes in, the Polish striker had found the net from the first touch, only for the play to be waved off. The home crowd breathed a sigh of relief as the decision stood, and the first big moment of the game fizzled out without a goal.
The home side would go on to test the visiting goalkeeper on multiple occasions through combinations involving Rapinha, Dembélé, and Pedri, but none of these attempts hit the target. Barça found no free man in the interior corridors and attempted to stretch the width of the pitch, with Lewandowski serving as the principal focal point in the attack. The former Bayern star forced a few saves and headed danger into the box, yet the ball would not find the back of the net as Rayo steadied after a shaky start and headed into the break with a sense of resilience.
Vallecas arrived with a purpose in the opening period, pressuring Ter Stegen on a quick transition. A one-on-one chance materialized for Álvaro García after a sharp counterattack, and the forward produced a one-on-one finish that challenged the German keeper. The host then saw Camello gain space to create a moment of magic, striking the post after a delicate touch that beat Barcelona’s last line. The sequence suggested that the afternoon would test Barcelona’s resolve as much as their technique.
Coach Xavi had warned a day earlier about Iraola’s squad, noting the Basque coach’s side could exploit spaces and counter Barcelona’s tempo. In the second half the game intensified. Xavi made a triple substitution in the middle of the second period, sending on Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati for Christensen, Gavi, and Raphinha. Iraola answered quickly by bringing on Oscar Valentín and Falcao, aiming to keep his team aggressive and fresh for the final stretch.
Ansu and Busquets threatened from distance but could not uncork the decisive moment. The Catalans pressed, and Alvaro García’s shift to the left flank helped stabilize Vallecano’s shape as the match opened up. Barcelona’s attempt to penetrate from the wings was limited, and the visitors continued to defend with discipline as the clock ticked away.
News feeds and social posts captured the mood around the stadium, with supporters chanting and the blue-and-red colors filling the stands. The game offered glimpses of the Lewandowski era as he worked tirelessly to find space and create chances, even as the team faced off against a disciplined Rayo defense that looked organized and committed throughout the match.
Another substitution pattern emerged late in the game when Aubameyang and Lewandowski combined on a couple of occasions to threaten the goal. The Camp Nou crowd rose to its feet when the ball finally found the net, but the offside flag interrupted the moment and a late review by VAR did not overturn the call. The result remained goalless and the opening day finished with both teams sharing the spoils and Barcelona tallying two points lost at home in the first outing of the season.
Rayo Vallecano stood firm until the end against a Barcelona side still searching for its rhythm as the Lewandowski era began without a victory on home soil. The first matchday left Barcelona with a point, a signal that the season might demand patience as the team strives to integrate new pieces into a cohesive unit.
Data sheet:
0 – Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi; Dembélé, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
0 – Vallecano Ray: Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, Fran Garcia; Pathé Ciss, Unai López; Isi, Trejo, Álvaro García; Camello.
Officials: Alejandro Hernández Hernández. Dembélé, Trejo, Catena, Lejeune, Falcao, Pathé Ciss cautioned. Dimitrievski and Busquets sent off after double bookings. The match took place in front of a full Spotify Camp Nou crowd with a reported attendance around 81,100.