Luis Suarez saves Barcelona from surprise slip-up against Vallecano
Vallecano 2-3 Barcelona: Relive all the action from the Estadio Vallecano
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Barcelona stunned Rayo Vallecano with two late goals as they claimed a 3-2 comeback victory to extend their lead at the top of La Liga.
The Spanish champions took an early lead through Luis Suarez but looked to be heading for defeat when efforts from Jose Pozo and Alvaro Garcia either side of half-time turned the game on its head.
Ousmane Dembele equalised with three minutes remaining and then Suarez got his second goal of the game in the final minute to seal a dramatic comeback.
Ernesto Valverde decided to name an unchanged Barcelona side after last weekend's 5-1 demolition of Real Madrid in El Clasico, with Rafinha once again starting in place of the injured Lionel Messi.
Suarez opened the scoring after 11 minutes, firing home from point-blank range from Jordi Alba's cutback.
After being caught out with a ball in behind to exploit Alba's pace, Rayo dropped a little deeper when defending, denying Barcelona space beyond their defensive line.
Valverde's team were now finding it more difficult to break through the sea of white shirts in front of them as the hosts grew into the match.
Pozo missed a glorious chance to equalise just before the half-hour mark when he poked the ball wide with the goal at his mercy - but Rayo would not have to wait much longer for their goal.
Despite the early setback, Rayo had managed to contain Barcelona after falling behind and a wonderful strike from Pozo got them level after 35 minutes.
A curling cross was not dealt with by the Barcelona backline, allowing Pozo to swing a beautiful strike past Marc-Andre ter Stegen and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Suarez came within inches of restoring the visitors' lead just before the break, with his first-time shot striking a post.
Cabrera Alberto Garcia did well to deny Rafinha at the start of the second half before Rayo stunned Barcelona by taking the lead through substitute Garcia.
The 26-year-old had been on the field less than a minute when he turned the ball in from close range after Raul de Tomas' diving header came back off a post.
Barcelona desperately pushed forward as they tried to find a way back into the game but they struggled to create chances.
Suarez came close with a header late on before Dembele equalised with three minutes remaining as he fired a low half-volley straight into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Barcelona then won it in the final minute when Suarez popped up at the far post to convert Roberto's cross, squeezing the ball past Alberto Garcia.
PA
Relive all the action below.
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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of this evening's offering of European football. We'll have live coverage of Juventus vs Cagliari and Vallecano vs Barcelona.
Stay tuned for the team news and build-up from 7pm GMT
No real surprises from Max Allegri there, with Chiellini left out due to muscular fatigue. His replacement Mehdi Benatia has been indifferent this season, so this should be a good test for the Moroccan.
Again no shocks from Ernesto Valverde at Vallecas. Lionel Messi returned to training this week following an arm fracture suffered against Sevilla but the Barca boss is in no mood to take any risks.
Clement Lenglet continues at centre-back following the continued absences of Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen with knee and hamstring problems respectively.
So what can we expect from the fixture in Turin this evening?
Juventus will certainly fancy their chances with history very much on their side.
The Serie A champions have only lost one of their 32 Serie A home games against Cagliari, and they have not conceded a goal against the Sardinians in their last four games.
It's makes for similar leading at managerial level, with Max Allegri having never lost against Cagliari coach Rolando Maran or against his former side.
Nevertheless, the Rossoblu arrive undefeated in three games, and the pressure is very much on Juve with Inter Milan and Napoli both cutting the gap at the top to three points with emphatic wins.
Kick off in just over 30 minutes time.
And what about in Madrid this evening?
Well, while Barcelona's last outing against a Madrid side went extremely well last weekend, their last trip to the Spanish capital was far less fruitful, when they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Leganes at Butarque.
Rayo Vallecano meanwhile sit 19th, one place behind Leganes, and they are yet to win at home this season with their only victory of the season coming at bottom-club Huesca in mid-September.
The hosts have already conceded 20 goals this term, while the visitors have scored 28 from their 10 games so far this season.
Kick off in the Spanish capital in 40 minutes time.
So, just 15 minutes till kick-off in Turin.
It's 1st against 12th, with 15 points currently separating the sides. Juve will reopen a six-point lead over the chasing pack with a win at the Allianz Stadium, while Cagliari could jump to 8th were they to pull off an almighty shock.
Five minutes until kick-off in Italy, and there is mixed news on the injury front.
Sami Khedira returns to the bench, but there is still no Mario Mandzukic for the hosts. Federico Bernadeschi also misses out, but the hosts will believe they still have enough.
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