“Toni Martínez opens the scoring to give Alavés the lead, rewarding a bright start from the hosts.”
Pivotal“Pathé Ciss picks up a yellow card just three minutes after coming on as a substitute, adding to Rayo's disciplinary concerns in a heated second half.”
“Rayo equalise after a frenetic sustained spell of pressure: Rebbach's shot is saved, then Blanco's effort is parried, then Zurawski's header is stopped — before Camello pounces to level at 1-1.”
Pivotal“Nahuel Tenaglia is booked for time-wasting as Alavés desperately try to protect their lead, highlighting the growing tension in the closing stages before Rayo strike with the winner three minutes later.”
“Randy Nteka converts Camello's assist in stoppage time to give Rayo a dramatic 2-1 victory, capping a stunning second-half comeback.”
Pivotal
Deportivo Alavés
Rayo Vallecano
Outstanding performance
Rayo Vallecano•GoalkeeperAlavés looked to be cruising after Toni Martínez gave them the lead on 13 minutes, and for much of the match they appeared the more dangerous side, racking up 19 shots, 10 corners and 49 dangerous attacks to Rayo's 23. Despite the stat dominance, however, Alavés created just one big chance compared to Rayo's four, and that clinical edge would prove decisive. Rayo's bench transformed the game: substitutes Sergio Camello and Alexandre Zurawski combined with pressure in a sustained 73rd-minute move that produced the equaliser, and Camello then set up Randy Nteka in the dying seconds to complete a stunning turnaround. The match also turned feisty in the second half — six yellow cards in total, with time-wasting bookings handed to both sides as tempers frayed — and Rayo's willingness to scrap through the chaos ultimately proved the difference. For Alavés, this is a painful way to drop points at home; for Rayo, a vital three points with the season drawing to a close.
How entertaining was this match?
Jorge de Frutos takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Randy NtekaRandy Nteka scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Sergio Camello
Goal! Randy Nteka scores to make it 1-2, assisted by Sergio Camello.
Nahuel TenagliaYellow CardNahuel Tenaglia receives a yellow card.
Andrei Ratiu comes on for Ivan Balliu Campeny.
Ibrahim Diabate takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Alexandre Zurawski's left-footed shot is blocked.
Denis Suarez Fernandez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ander Guevara Lajo replaces Jon Guridi.
Ibrahim Diabate replaces Lucas Boye.
Ivan Balliu Campeny takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Randy Nteka's header is saved.
Gerard Gumbau takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Ville Koski's header is saved.
Antonio Martinez Lopez takes a shot with his right foot, but it's blocked.
Abde Rebbach receives a yellow card.
Denis Suarez Fernandez comes on for Pablo Ibanez Lumbreras.
Sergio CamelloSergio Camello scores with a left-footed shot.
Pathe Ciss takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
assist: Pathé Ciss
Goal! Sergio Camello scores, making it 1-1.
Alexandre Zurawski's header is saved.
Antonio Blanco takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Abde Rebbach takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ivan Balliu Campeny takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ángel PérezYellow CardAngel Perez receives a yellow card.
Alexandre Zurawski takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Lucas Boye's right-footed shot is blocked.
Pathé CissYellow CardPathe Ciss receives a yellow card.
Alexandre Zurawski replaces Oscar Valentín.
Pablo Ibanez Lumbreras takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Pathe Ciss is on, and Abdul Mumin is off.
Nahuel Tenaglia takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Angel Perez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Pablo Ibanez Lumbreras takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Sergio CamelloYellow CardSergio Camello receives a yellow card.
Alfonso Espino takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Jorge de Frutos replaces Alvaro Garcia.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Gerard Gumbau takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Gerard Gumbau takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Nahuel Tenaglia's right-footed shot is saved.
Sergio Camello replaces Carlos Martin.
Carlos Nahuel Benavidez Protesoni comes on for Victor Parada Gonzalez.
Antonio Martinez Lopez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Lucas Boye's right-footed shot is blocked.
Randy Nteka attempts a header but misses the shot.
Antonio Martinez Lopez takes a left-footed shot and scores.
Antonio Blanco has a shot with his right foot, but it is blocked.
Carlos Martin takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Lucas Boye takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Deportivo Alavés welcome Rayo Vallecano to Mendizorroza in a late-season La Liga clash with plenty of pride at stake. Alavés are celebrating their survival in style at home, while Rayo arrive chasing what their coach has called the greatest milestone in the club's history. Expect a tight, physical encounter between two sides separated by just four points.
