Rayo Vallecano signed off from Butarque with a farewell victory. Beñat San José's side beat Espanyol 2-1 in a La Liga match, maintaining their unbeaten run in Leganés and picking up three points that leave them 12th in the table with 7.
It was the perfect start for the Madrid outfit. In the third minute of play, Álvaro García met a cross from the left to beat Audero with a low shot. The lead was doubled in the 26th minute when the same Álvaro García set up Adrià Pedrosa for a precise finish inside the box. Espanyol, managed by Manolo González, reacted after the break. Roberto Fernández Jaén pulled one back in the 54th minute following a pass from Javi Hernández, but Rayo managed the game to secure the points.
Changes and chances
Beñat San José introduced a defensive novelty with Sadick, who made his first start in central defence. This move allowed Ciss to slot into the double pivot. For his part, Manolo González made three changes at halftime, bringing on Edu Expósito, Marcos Fernández and Bryan Zaragoza to add more dynamism. Espanyol had their chances, with a Bauzà shot in the 20th minute and two attempts from Tsitaishvili that clipped the crossbar. Sergio Camello, Rayo's top scorer this season with 6 goals in 5 appearances, also rattled the bar with a volley.
Espanyol coach Manolo González urged calm from his players during a tense moment. "¡Tranquilos ostia! We cannot let them take a short throw-in in their corner of the pitch," he barked from the dugout. Meanwhile, Beñat San José explained his tactical approach after the match. He said the key was to close the defensive lines before being able to press effectively.
The win consolidates Rayo in mid-table, eight points behind leaders Barcelona. The team now looks ahead to its return to Vallecas, scheduled for 10 October, following the administrative resolution on the stadium concession. First, the next challenge is a trip to El Sadar to face Osasuna on Saturday 19 September. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and the status of absentees, which include Augusto Batalla and Randy Nteka, on the injuries page. With this victory, Rayo heads home with morale high and the confidence of having been solid away from their fortress.
This story first appeared at El País Deportes
Rayo manager Beñat San José confirmed the team's approach after Saturday's victory. He said the key was "closing the lines to then be able to exert pressure". The team now sits 11th in La Liga, with 7 points. Their next fixture is a visit to Osasuna this Saturday.
Espanyol improved clearly after the break, according to the match data. Manolo González's side raised their possession to 61% in the second half and generated 14 shots, though six were blocked. Rayo, 11th in La Liga with 7 points, completed 31 clearances to protect their lead. The next fixture is the visit to Osasuna.
