Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Barcelona: Xavi's league leaders are STUNNED on the road after goals from Alvaro Garcia and Real Madrid-bound Fran Garcia... leaving champagne on ice as they chase LaLiga title

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Madrid minnows Rayo Vallecano humbled Barcelona with a 2-1 win that pushes Barcelona's title celebrations back a few more weeks.

They stay 11 points clear of Real Madrid with seven games left but they were second best to one of LaLiga's poorest, but best managed, teams.

It was a tale of two Garcias and a tale of two coaches. The Garcias, Fran and Alvaro got the goals in another stunning display of punchy positive front-foot football from Rayo.

Their coach Andoni Iraola won the tactical battle hands down against Xavi. He had picked up a point earlier in the season with a 0-0 draw and this was another masterclass.

Little wonder that Leeds wanted Iraola to take over mid-season. He did not want to leave tiny Rayo in the middle of the campaign and he could yet guide them to a European place in what will be his goodbye season. He is heading for Villarreal in the summer and Rayo could collapse without him especially if wonder wingers Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon leave with him.

Xavi was left exasperated as Barcelona tripped up against Madrid minnows Rayo Vallecano

Alvaro Garcia is congratulated by his team-mates after he fired Vallecano into a 1-0 lead

Things improved significantly when Fran Garcia converted to make it a two-goal advantage

For Xavi it was a miserable night. 

He was teased for complaining about having to play in the sunshine and the grass being too long and too dry in Barcelona's last away game 10 days ago.

The sun had long gone in and the pitch was well watered this time but it made little difference. 

Barcelona are still on their way to the title but they are doing so with a poor run of form not befitting champions. 

In their 11 games since losing in Europe to Manchester United, Barcelona have only scored 11 goals and four of those were against bottom club Elche.

Rayo took the lead through Alvaro Garcia on 19 minutes. 

The winger took a pass from Sergio Camello and arrowed the ball back across and past Marc Andre ter Stegen – it was only the 10th goal he had conceded all season.

The assist provider Camello had missed the chance to score before he laid on Alvaro's goal. Ter Stegen this time came out to block the chance.

With Alvaro a threat down the left Isi Palazon was just as lively down the right drawing fouls from Gavi and Balde who both picked up yellow cards.

There was little in the way of response from Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski having their best chance. Stole Dimitrievski saved well with his face to deny the Polish forward.

Xavi was left fuming on the touchline during the first half and he was just as angry 10 minutes into the second half when Barcelona were 2-0 down. This time it was the other Garcia. 

Fran Garcia is on his way to Real Madrid this summer and he will be welcomed with open arms even more so now after this goal.

Robert Lewandowski (right) scored a consolation goal to make things interesting near the end

Xavi (middle) made key substitutions but was left furious with how his team went 2-0 down

Frenkie de Jong was dispossessed by the flying full-back who then accelerated into space and shot past Ter Stegen. Now it was 11 goals he had conceded.

There was again little response from Barcelona until Xavi threw on Pablo Torre and Franck Kessie. 

They combined well and when the latter's shot was blocked Lewandowski hammered in his 18th goal of the season from the loose ball – it was only his fifth since the turn of the year.

It was no more than a consolation though as Rayo held on to record a famous win over Xavi's stumbling Champions elect.