Barca had a penalty shout waved off in second half stoppage time after Raphinha went down inside the box. There appeared to be some contact with a Rayo defender, but VAR did not intervene to overturn the decision.

WHAT XAVI SAID

In a post-match press conference, the Barca manager questioned the official’s decision not to award his team what could have been a decisive spot-kick: “Then I’m told I’m looking for excuses, but the foul on Raphinha is a clear penalty. It happened to us in Getafe, in Granada and today. We lost because we weren’t good in the first half, and that’s no excuse, but it’s a clear penalty.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The decisive moment came after a late onslaught from Xavi’s side, who created a number of chances in the dying minutes after starting the game poorly. The draw leaves them three points off the top — a deficit that could increase to six points by Monday evening.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCA

The Blaugrana next play on Tuesday, when they take on Porto in what will likely be a decisive contest in their hopes to get out of their Champions League group for the first time in three years.