Referee Alejandro Quintero has been appointed to officiate Rayo Vallecano's second match in their exile at Butarque. The Andalusian official took charge of the Saturday 18:30 clash against Racing de Santander at the Estadio de Butarque. LaLiga had previously rejected the Madrid club's request to postpone the fixture.
Rayo Vallecano approaches this match in a difficult league position. The team sits 18th in LaLiga with just one point, from zero wins, one draw, and two losses in three games. Their recent form is LDL, and they have a negative four goal difference, having scored four and conceded eight. This leaves them eight points behind leaders Barcelona.
Who is referee Alejandro Quintero?
Alejandro Quintero, from Andalusia, is handling his second match of the season in the Primera División. His debut this campaign was at the Martínez Valero stadium, officiating the Elche vs Barcelona match. Starting January 1, 2027, Quintero and his colleague Víctor García Verdura will obtain international referee status. For the Butarque match, Guillermo Cuadra Fernández will serve as the VAR official.
The appointment of Quintero could be a positive omen for Rayo Vallecano. The team's history under his refereeing in the top flight is favorable. In the five previous matches he has officiated for the Vallecas side, the franjirrojos have never lost. Their record is two wins and three draws.
What is Rayo's record with Quintero?
The three most recent matches with Quintero on the pitch all ended in draws. Rayo drew against Valencia both at Mestalla and at Vallecas, and also drew against Oviedo at the Nuevo Carlos Tartiere stadium. The team's last win with this referee dates back to January 31, 2025. It was a 1-0 victory in the derby against Leganés.
In contrast, the statistic for Racing de Santander with Quintero is very different. The Cantabrian team has been refereed by him six times and has never won. Their record is one draw and five losses. The last match he officiated for Racing was a defeat to Villarreal B on June 2, 2024.
What is Rayo's context for this match?
This match represents the second that Rayo Vallecano plays away from their usual stadium. The exile situation forces the team to seek points away from Vallecas to improve their delicate league standing. Every point becomes vital to climb out of the relegation places.
The match against Racing is a key opportunity before a very demanding fixture. Rayo Vallecano's next scheduled match is an away trip to face second-placed Real Madrid on September 12, 2026. Fans can check the team's full schedule on our fixtures page and follow the league table on standings.
The appointment of a referee with a favorable history might be a small relief in a tough moment. Rayo Vallecano urgently needs to secure their first three points of the 2026-27 season.
