A late Florian Lejeune own goal cancelled out a brilliant Unai Lopez strike and earned Barcelona a point away to Rayo Vallecano. The Catalan giants fell behind in the 39th minute to a goal worthy of deciding any contest but the hosts couldn't see the game out. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Lejeune stuck a leg out and diverted the ball into his own net.
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A late own goal gave Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon as La Liga returned.
The two sides were playing their first game back since the international break, and the Catalans needed a win to keep the pressure on at the top.
They started the day two points behind Real Madrid, while they were four points off the surprise league leaders, their geographically closer rivals, Girona.
But Unai Lopez gave the home side the lead with an astonishing effort from long range.
After his free-kick cross was cleared, the ball came to him and he cut across it on the volley to beat the diving Inaki Pena at the near post, such was the ferocity of the strike.
As Barcelona chased the game they introduced Joao Felix - struggling for goals - and former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, with another ex-City man, Ferran Torres, and Oriol Romeu making way with around a quarter of an hour remainin...