Araujo header secures Barcelona's narrow win over Rayo

Ronald Araujo's first-half header gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at home against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday that kept the Catalan side with a comfortable lead at the top of LaLiga.

Barcelona lead the standings with 73 points, seven ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and will host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in a Spanish capital derby later on Sunday.

Ronald Araujo scored the winner in the 24th minute heading in from a corner lifted by Joao Cancelo from the left. The Portuguese international crossed the ball to the far post, where the Uruguayan defender jumped higher than Pathe Ciss to nod it in off the right post.

However, the key man for the home side was goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who made a string of saves to deny Rayo what would have been a deserved equaliser, earning the 24-year-old the man of the match award.