Barcelona's narrow 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano was predominantly swayed by the accurately taken penalty by Robert Lewandowski in the first half. This goal set the tone for Barcelona's disciplined performance. Although both teams demonstrated similar attacking profiles with Barcelona registering five shots on target to Rayo's four, the hosts maintained slightly more composure in front of the net, ensuring their solitary goal was enough for the win.

While both sides displayed tenacity, Rayo Vallecano's approach led to three yellow cards, impacting their momentum and composure in crucial stages of the match. Andrei Ratiu's late first-half booking was indicative of Rayo's struggling defense against Barcelona's relentless forward play. Barcelona, on the other hand, while committing more fouls, managed their discipline more effectively, which facilitated their ability to control phases of play without succumbing to disciplinary repercussions.

The teams showcased near parity in their shots off target, with Barcelona firing nine and Rayo managing five; this highlighted a shared inefficiency in capitalizing on opportunities. However, Barcelona's tactical awareness was evident through their calculated offside play resulting in only two calls against them compared to Rayo's five offsides, underscoring an area where Rayo's frontline could fine-tune their approach. Both teams' corner counts and defensive efforts were fairly matched, yet Barcelona's marginally superior execution in crucial moments defined the game's outcome. Overall, the statistical balance displayed by both teams suggests a competitive match, with Barcelona's pragmatic execution in key moments yielding their three-point advantage.

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