Araujo header secures nervy win for Barcelona
Ronald Araujo scored the only goal as Barcelona moved seven points clear at the LaLiga summit with a nervy 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
The skipper's first-half header proved the difference as Hansi Flick's side claimed its fifth straight league win, though it was holding on towards the end at Camp Nou.
Vallecano almost broke the deadlock inside the opening minute after a swift counter that culminated in Joan Garcia producing a superb point-blank save to deny Carlos Martin.
Raphinha dragged wide at the other end when one-on-one with Augusto Batalla, who also denied the forward's lobbed attempt before Araujo nodded in Joao Cancelo's corner on 24 minutes.
Batalla made a wonderful save to deny Raphinha's deflected effort soon after, while Lamine Yamal shot narrowly wide in the 57th minute.
Vallecano, which reached the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals in midweek, went in search of a late equaliser, but Garcia made a smart save to deny Jorge de Frutos in the 89th minute as Barca held on.
