Real Madrid La Liga lead has been reduced to five points after Rayo Vallecano held off Xabi Alonso’s side.
The 36-time league champions were hoping to reclaim their seven-point lead at the top of the table after Villarreal moved into second place with a 2-0 win away to Espanyol on Saturday.
However, Vallecano, who had won three of their previous five matches, proved to be a difficult opponent.
Defender Raul Asencio came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but he was unable to guide his header goalwards after being left unmarked in the area.
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold came on in the dying minutes, but Madrid failed to create clear-cut chances, with Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham squandering the team’s finest opportunities.
Barcelona can trim Madrid’s advantage to three points when they go to Celta Vigo on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
