With the season looming to its end, the 37th matchday of the La Liga season gave Barcelona supporters a bandage of joy over a disappointing campaign.
Barcelona started the match in terrific form. A great cross from the young star Lamine Yamal was sent into the box and was controlled perfectly by Robert Lewandowski and the Polish smashed the ball into the net with a beautiful volley. All within the first three minutes of the match.
However, Rayo would have chances to stun the Blaugrana throughout the first half, with shots coming outside the box and long balls sent up top on the counterattack. All of these were perfectly handled by Marc-André ter Stegen, who had a relatively quiet match.
The second half would see Rayo's best chances of the match, with a dangerous cross that was sent near the Barcelona net, which wasn't perfectly defended by Iñigo Martínez and almost led to a goal.
Rayo would have another chance at goal just 4 minutes later, with a shot inside the box which was saved well by ter Stegen. The follow-up shot was defended brilliantly by Andreas Christensen who made a critical tackle that kept the lead.
The Blaugrana would get woken up by Rayo's attacks, with a sublime piece of dribbling from João Félix nutmegging a Rayo defender, faking a cross at the byline leaving another Rayo player on the grass. Félix would then have his shot saved, but Pedri would follow up with a great left-footed strike that rattled the crossbar and went in.
Barça would wrap up the match with Pedri putting his name on the scoresheet once more, with a beautiful long ball from Ronald Araújo that sent the Spanish midfielder in on goal and with his body shielding the ball from a Rayo defender he struck the bouncing ball into the net.
All Eyes on the Opening of the New Spotify Camp Nou
This was an odd season for the Blaugrana, having had all their matches at home not being at Camp Nou, the home ground of the club for decades, it's led to negative ramifications financially and potentially the performance of the team.
However it isn't all bad news for Barcelona, with the new Camp Nou estimated to be finished in either November or December of this year, the club will be able to mitigate the financial crisis occurring at the moment and bring joy to the fans who've long awaited to return home to the stadium, one that is even more beautiful and technologically advanced.