After the last-minute permission to play for a quartet around world footballer Robert Lewandowski, FC Barcelona started the new season with a disappointment. The Catalans drew 0-0 against Rayo Vallecano on the debut of the Bayern Munich signing.
Barcelona controlled the game but struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Lewandowski scored the supposed lead with a nice lob in the 13th minute, but before that he was clearly offside. Like the other million new signings Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen, the Pole only received official playing permission shortly before the game.
The guests were lurking for counterattacks and initially had the better opportunities. First national keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen parried brilliantly in the goal of the Catalans (45 + 2), then Sergio Camello had the lead on the foot, just failed with his lob (52).
In the closing stages, Barcelona turned up the heat again and had good opportunities through Kessie (75′), Lewandowski (82′) and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (84′). However, it was not enough for the decisive goal. Vallecano also appeared dangerously in front of Ter Stegen’s goal, again the 30-year-old made a strong save (90+5).