Possession-kings Barcelona had less than 50 percent of the ball for the first time in five years when they won 4-0 at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday.
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The Spanish champions always take pride in their technical ability and the amount of possession they enjoy but Barca have been undergoing something of a change in strategy under new coach Gerardo Martino.
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The Argentine has been encouraging the team to mix up their playing style to avoid predictability and the sight of goalkeeper Victor Valdes and his defenders drilling long passes from the back has become more common this season.
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Against lowly Rayo, who also value possession highly under coach Paco Jemez and who have the second highest percentage figures behind Barca in La Liga, the champions finally met their match.
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Rayo edged them 51 to 49 percent on Saturday to end a run of 316 games where Barca have controlled possession, according to the sports and media company Infostrada.
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