Rayo 1 – Villarreal 5: vallecano left stunned by marauding visitors
Villarreal delivered a resounding 5-1 victory against Rayo on Thursday, at Estadio de Vallecas. With both teams drawing in their previous fixtures, they were keen to pick up points. Rayo were looking for a victory after a scoreless draw against Getafe in their previous match. Villarreal, on the other hand, secured a point against Seville in their previous match. As it stands, Rayo and Villarreal sit 12th, (42 points) and 7th, (56 points), spots respectively, after 36 matches.
It was an impressive opening from The Yellow Submarine, with an early goal from Alfonso Pedraza in the 3rd minute. However, the good fortune didn’t last for long. An equalizer from Sergi Guardiola at the 21 minute mark brought vallecano level. However, each side looked hungry to win and Villarreal then found the back of the net, 27 minutes in thanks to Juan Foyth, taking the score to 2-1. The Yellow Submarine looked to have the game under control when they scored again and increased their lead, thanks to a goal from Paco Alcacer at the 38 minute mark to establish a 3-1. Villarreal then netted again and increased their lead thanks to a goal from Pau Torres just before half-time, which saw the first half end 1-4.
Villarreal continued to apply pressure in the second and were rewarded, with Alfonso Pedraza finding the net again just before the final whistle, leaving the final score at 5-1.
For Rayo, Randy Nteka, Mamadou Sylla, Falcao, Alejandro Asensio and Kevin Rodrigues, came on for Nikola Maras, Bebe, Sergi Guardiola, Alvaro Garcia and Santi Comesana. Villarreal brought on Nicolas Jackson, Boulaye Dia, Aissa Mandi, Mario Gaspar and Vicente Iborra, to replace Giovani Lo Celso, Paco Alcacer, Pau Torres, Juan Foyth and Etienne Capoue.
There were bookings for Nikola Maras, Alvaro Garcia, Santi Comesana, Unai Lopez and Mamadou Sylla from Rayo, and Geronimo Rulli and Raul Albiol, for Villarreal.
Rayo will play away against Mallorca, while Villarreal will face Real Sociedad at home.
| Technical card: | |
|---|---|
| Rayo Vallecano: | Stole Dimitrievski, Ivan Balliu, Nikola Maras (Randy Nteka, min.59), Alejandro Catena, Francisco Garcia, Bebe (Mamadou Sylla, min.59), Unai Lopez, Óscar Valentín, Alvaro Garcia (Alejandro Asensio, min.89), Sergi Guardiola (Falcao, min.59) and Santi Comesana (Kevin Rodrigues, min.90) |
| Villarreal: | Geronimo Rulli, Juan Foyth (Mario Gaspar, min.73), Pau Torres (Aissa Mandi, min.66), Raul Albiol, Alfonso Pedraza, Dani Parejo, Etienne Capoue (Vicente Iborra, min.81), Manu Trigueros, Paco Alcacer (Boulaye Dia, min.66), Giovani Lo Celso (Nicolas Jackson, min.46) and Samuel Chukwueze |
| Stadium: | Estadio de Vallecas |
| Goals: | Alfonso Pedraza (0-1, min. 3), Sergi Guardiola (1-1, min. 21), Juan Foyth (1-2, min. 27), Paco Alcacer (1-3, min. 38), Pau Torres (1-4, min. 45) and Alfonso Pedraza (1-5, min. 88) |
