“Álvaro García fires Rayo Vallecano into an early lead with a right-footed finish from the center of the box.”
Pivotal“Adrià Pedrosa doubles Rayo's advantage with a well-placed left-footed shot from a tight angle, capitalizing on sustained pressure after a corner and a blocked effort.”
Pivotal“Espanyol hit back through Roberto Fernández, who finishes from the left side of the box on a fast break to cut the deficit to one.”
Rayo Vallecano
Espanyol
Outstanding performance
Rayo Vallecano•MidfielderRayo Vallecano did the damage early, scoring inside three minutes through Álvaro García before Adrià Pedrosa doubled the lead from a tight angle just after the half-hour mark. Espanyol dominated the underlying numbers - more shots, more shots on target, more dangerous attacks and more corners - but wasted their control, managing only Roberto Fernández's fast-break finish to show for their second-half pressure. The visitors made a triple substitution at halftime to try to change the game's shape, and while it injected more urgency, Rayo's defense held firm behind a disciplined 16-tackle effort. The result leaves Rayo Vallecano with a statement win built on clinical finishing against a run of play, while Espanyol's frustrating night ended with Omar El Hilali's late red card for a professional foul, capping a chaotic, card-heavy second half.
How entertaining was this match?
Omar El Hilali of Espanyol commits a handball.
Leandro Cabrera's header from the center of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Edu Expósito's cross.
Espanyol is awarded a corner after Andrei Ratiu concedes.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol commits a foul.
Alemão from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Rayo Vallecano wins a corner after Clemens Riedel concedes.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Attempt blocked. Marcos Fernández from Espanyol has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that is blocked. Pol Lozano provided the assist with a cross.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Marcos Fernández from Espanyol.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Iván Balliu from Rayo Vallecano.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 6 minutes of added time.
Alemão from Rayo Vallecano commits a foul.
AlemãoYellow CardAlemão from Rayo Vallecano receives a yellow card for a foul.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed by Bryan Zaragoza from Espanyol, who took a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
Alemão from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Bryan Zaragoza from Espanyol is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano commits a foul.
Pol Lozano from Espanyol wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Edu Expósito from Espanyol has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's blocked.
Substitution for Espanyol: Pol Lozano comes on for Urko González de Zárate.
Substitution for Rayo Vallecano: Iván Balliu comes on for Álvaro García.
Roberto Fernández of Espanyol is caught offside.
Urko González de Zárate from Espanyol commits a foul.
Alemão from Rayo Vallecano is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Urko González de Zárate from Espanyol has a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it is blocked.
Foul committed by Gnangoro of Rayo Vallecano.
GnangoroYellow CardGnangoro from Rayo Vallecano receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Bryan Zaragoza from Espanyol is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Pedro Díaz from Rayo Vallecano misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Substitution for Rayo Vallecano: Alemão comes on for Sergio Camello.
Substitution for Rayo Vallecano: Fran Pérez comes on for Giorgi Tsitaishvili.
Edu Expósito from Espanyol wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Gnangoro of Rayo Vallecano.
Substitution for Espanyol: Cala comes on for Javi Hernández.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Clemens Riedel from Espanyol commits a foul.
Pathé CissYellow CardPathé Ciss from Rayo Vallecano receives a yellow card.
Attempt missed. Edu Expósito from Espanyol takes a left-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box, but it goes to the right.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Edu Expósito from Espanyol misses the attempt with a left-footed shot from outside the box, sending it high and wide to the left. Javi Hernández provided the assist.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Giorgi Tsitaishvili of Rayo Vallecano.
Giorgi TsitaishviliYellow CardGiorgi Tsitaishvili of Rayo Vallecano receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Giorgi Tsitaishvili of Rayo Vallecano.
Clemens Riedel from Espanyol is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Giorgi Tsitaishvili from Rayo Vallecano has a left-footed shot from the center of the box that is blocked.
Attempt saved. Javi Hernández from Espanyol has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved in the bottom right corner by Emil Audero of Rayo Vallecano. The shot was assisted by Quilindschy Hartman.
Marcos Fernández from Espanyol commits a foul.
Gnangoro from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Marcos FernándezYellow CardMarcos Fernández of Espanyol receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution for Rayo Vallecano: Óscar Valentín comes on for Mujaid Sadick.
Substitution for Rayo Vallecano: Gnangoro comes on for Unai López.
Marcos Fernández's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Javi Hernández.
Attempt saved. Bryan Zaragoza from Espanyol has his right-footed shot from the left side of the box saved in the bottom right corner by Emil Audero of Rayo Vallecano. The assist came from Edu Expósito.
Clemens Riedel's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved by Emil Audero in the top center of the goal. The attempt was assisted by Bryan Zaragoza.
Corner awarded to Espanyol after a concession by Emil Audero.
Urko González de Zárate of Espanyol commits a handball.
assist: Javi Hernández
Goal! Rayo Vallecano 2, Espanyol 1. Roberto Fernández scores for Espanyol with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box after a fast break.
Andrei Ratiu's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Pedro Díaz provided the assist.
Sergio Camello commits a foul for Rayo Vallecano.
Edu Expósito from Espanyol wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Javi Hernández's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Bryan Zaragoza.
Corner awarded to Espanyol after Mujaid Sadick concedes.
Marcos Fernández's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Javi Hernández.
Attempt missed. Unai López from Rayo Vallecano takes a right-footed shot from outside the box following a direct free kick.
Leandro Cabrera from Espanyol commits a foul.
Unai López from Rayo Vallecano is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution for Espanyol: Bryan Zaragoza comes on for Rafel Bauzà.
Substitution for Espanyol: Edu Expósito comes on for Gabriel Moscardo.
The second half begins with Rayo Vallecano leading Espanyol 2-0.
Substitution for Espanyol: Marcos Fernández comes on for Roger Hinojo.
Attempt missed. Roger Hinojo from Espanyol takes a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes too high. He was assisted by Roberto Fernández.
First half ends with Rayo Vallecano leading 2-0 against Espanyol.
Attempt missed. Pedro Díaz from Rayo Vallecano takes a right-footed shot from over 35 yards but misses to the left after a fast break.
Sergio Camello from Rayo Vallecano hits the bar with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Giorgi Tsitaishvili's cross.
Rafel Bauzà from Espanyol is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Unai López from Rayo Vallecano commits a foul.
Unai LópezYellow CardUnai López of Rayo Vallecano receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 4 minutes of added time.
Attempt missed. Giorgi Tsitaishvili from Rayo Vallecano has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that goes high and wide to the left. Pathé Ciss provided the assist.
Attempt missed by Gabriel Moscardo from Espanyol, who took a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Adrià Pedrosa from Rayo Vallecano misses an attempt with a left-footed shot from outside the box, sending it too high. He was assisted by Pedro Díaz after a set piece situation.
Attempt missed. Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano headed the ball from the center of the box after a set piece situation.
Andrei Ratiu from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Quilindschy Hartman of Espanyol.
Rafel Bauzà of Espanyol commits a foul.
Pedro Díaz from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed by Sergio Camello from Rayo Vallecano, who took a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol commits a handball.
Attempt missed. Giorgi Tsitaishvili from Rayo Vallecano takes a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Espanyol wins a corner, conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Urko González de Zárate from Espanyol wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Álvaro García of Rayo Vallecano.
There is a delay in the match involving Rayo Vallecano.
assist: Álvaro García
Goal! Rayo Vallecano leads 2-0 against Espanyol. Adrià Pedrosa scores for Rayo Vallecano with a left-footed shot from a difficult angle on the left.
Attempt missed. Javi Hernández from Espanyol has a right-footed shot from the center of the box that goes to the right.
Florian Lejeune's left-footed shot from the left side of the box for Rayo Vallecano is blocked.
Rayo Vallecano wins a corner after Leandro Cabrera concedes.
Sergio Camello from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Leandro Cabrera from Espanyol commits a foul.
Attempt missed by Rafel Bauzà of Espanyol, who took a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Corner awarded to Espanyol after Andrei Ratiu concedes.
Attempt missed by Roberto Fernández from Espanyol with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Omar El Hilali of Espanyol is caught offside.
Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano commits a foul.
Adrià Pedrosa of Rayo Vallecano commits a foul.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol wins a free kick in the defensive half.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Rafel Bauzà from Espanyol.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Rafel Bauzà of Espanyol commits a foul.
Pathé Ciss from Rayo Vallecano is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Rayo Vallecano is awarded a corner after Gabriel Moscardo concedes.
Omar El Hilali from Espanyol commits a foul.
Adrià Pedrosa from Rayo Vallecano is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Pedro Díaz's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Sergio Camello.
Goal! Rayo Vallecano leads 1-0 against Espanyol. Álvaro García scores with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Foul committed by Gabriel Moscardo of Espanyol.
Pedro Díaz from Rayo Vallecano wins a free kick in the defensive half.
First half begins.
Struggling Rayo Vallecano host a resurgent Espanyol side in a match relocated to Butarque amid stadium concerns at Vallecas. With Rayo bottom-three and coming off a heavy Real Madrid defeat, this is a crucial fixture for the hosts to arrest their slide.
