In a match that saw no goals, Rayo Vallecano faced Real Betis at the Estadio de Vallecas, bringing the fans to a somewhat quiet conclusion to the encounter in the 16th round of La Liga.
Isaac Palazón came tantalizingly close to breaking the deadlock in the second half, hitting the post in the 69th minute and leaving the crowd in suspense as they awaited a goal.
The standout performer of the match was Florian Lejeune, who played a crucial role in Rayo’s defense, managing to intercept five balls throughout the game.
Marc Bartra was also integral to Betis’s defensive efforts, recovering two balls and clearing two dangerous situations effectively.
In a notable moment before halftime, Rayo Vallecano’s Luis Alfonso Espino showcased his skills with an impressive nutmeg over Betis’s Aitor Ruibal, delighting the home fans.
Rayo’s coach, Iñigo Perez, set up his team in a 4-5-1 formation with Augusto Batalla in goal; Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, and Pep Chavarría forming the defensive line; Pathé Ciss, Óscar Valentín, Jorge de Frutos, Isaac Palazón, and Luis Alfonso Espino in midfield; and Álvaro García leading the attack.
Meanwhile, Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, opted for a similar 4-5-1 setup, fielding Álvaro Valles in goal; Aitor Ruibal, Diego Llorente, Natan, and Ricardo Rodríguez in defense; Marc Roca, Nelson Deossa, Antony, Pablo Fornals, and Rodrigo Riquelme in midfield; with Juan Hernández up front.
The match officiated by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea produced a clean game, although several yellow cards were shown.
Rayo will next face Elche away, while Betis will host Getafe at home. After this match, Rayo sits in 13th place with 18 points, while Betis holds 6th place with 25 points in the league standings.
Substitutions for Rayo Vallecano
17’ 1T – Jorge de Frutos replaced by Fran Pérez
65’ 2T – Luis Alfonso Espino off for Sergio Camello and Óscar Valentín off for Pedro Díaz
82’ 2T – Isaac Palazón substituted for Gerard Gumbau and Álvaro García substituted for Iván Balliu
Yellow Cards for Rayo Vallecano
43’ 1T – Fran Pérez (Unsporting conduct)
49’ 1T – Augusto Batalla (Unsporting conduct)
29’ 2T – Pathé Ciss (Unsporting conduct)
43’ 2T – Iván Balliu (Unsporting conduct)
Substitutions for Betis
58’ 2T – Nelson Deossa replaced by Giovani Lo Celso
6’ 1T – Diego Llorente replaced by Marc Bartra
73’ 2T – Rodrigo Riquelme off for Pablo Garcia and Pablo Fornals off for Sergi Altimira
Yellow Card for Betis
9’ 1T – Marc Roca (Unsporting conduct)