Rayo Vallecano will be without six key players during the September international break. Iván Balliu, Randy Nteka, Andrei Ratiu, Marash Kumbulla, Giorgi Tsitaishvili and Emil Audero have all received call-ups from their national teams.
The absence hits the defence and goalkeeping departments hardest. Audero, Ratiu and Kumbulla are considered important figures in a backline looking for consistency after a mixed start to the league campaign. Rayo currently sit 12th in La Liga with 8 points from seven matches, having recorded two wins, two draws and three defeats. Their season-long goal is to average 50 minutes of possession per game, a target made more difficult by their recent form, which has seen them win just one of their last five league matches.
The longest journey falls to goalkeeper Emil Audero, who is set to travel to Indonesia. The team's next competitive fixture is not until October 10th, when they host 10th-placed Athletic Club at Vallecas. Until then, the coaching staff will work with a reduced group.
Information on call-ups will be kept updated in case of any changes during the break. Supporters can check the full schedule upon resumption on our fixtures page and the current squad status.
Rayo's last match was a 1-1 draw away to Osasuna, with Sergio Camello on the scoresheet. The striker is the team's top scorer this season with seven goals.
This story first appeared at Comuniate
