Álvaro García was the key man in Rayo Vallecano's 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the Estadio de Butarque on Sunday. The forward scored the opener after just three minutes and later provided the assist for Adrià Pedrosa's strike, securing three vital points that lift the team out of the bottom three.
The match, part of LaLiga EA Sports matchday six, started perfectly for the hosts. García met a cross from the left flank to fire home a low finish. He turned provider in the 26th minute, setting up Pedrosa for a composed finish inside the box. Espanyol pulled a goal back in the second half, but Rayo managed the game well to see out the win.
Head coach Beñat San José spoke with his players during the hydration break to fine-tune defensive instructions. "During the match we had to be smart and maintain our concentration," the manager said afterwards.
This win provides key breathing room for a side that had been sitting 16th with just four points from their opening five games. It temporarily moves them out of the relegation places ahead of a tough trip to face Osasuna at El Sadar. The victory is a significant boost for a team whose recent form had seen them concede 14 goals in their previous matches.
García's goal is his first of the campaign, while top scorer Sergio Camello, who has six goals this season, was kept off the scoresheet. The defensive unit, featuring Mujaid Sadick and Pathé Ciss, looked more solid than in recent outings. Check the latest league table on standings.
Attention now turns to a difficult away fixture in Pamplona. Rayo will aim for a second consecutive win on the road to continue climbing the table before the next international break.
This story first appeared at Mundo Deportivo
