In an intense battle at Estadio de Vallecas, Rayo Vallecano emerged victorious over Elche with a solitary goal. The match, part of La Liga’s 30th round, saw Randy Nteka find the net in the 74th minute, scoring the decisive goal for his team.
Nteka capitalized on a well-placed cross from Álvaro García, skillfully striking the ball from within the box to beat the Elche goalkeeper. Prior to that moment, Rayo Vallecano had a golden opportunity to take the lead earlier in the second half when Pedro Díaz hit the woodwork in the 67th minute, narrowly missing his chance to score.
Randy Nteka’s performance was the highlight of the match, as he not only scored but also completed four successful passes, showcasing his prowess on the pitch. Defensively, Florian Lejeune stood out for Rayo Vallecano, making six vital clearances to prevent any threats from Elche.
Elche’s Teté Morente exhibited his technical skills by performing a nutmeg on Rayo’s Andrei Ratiu in the first half, providing a glimpse of Elche’s attacking intent.
Rayo’s head coach, Iñigo Perez, set up his team in a 4-3-3 formation with Augusto Batalla in goal, supported by a defensive line of Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune, Luiz Felipe, and Pep Chavarría. The midfield included Isaac Palazón, Óscar Valentín, and Unai López, while the forwards were Jorge de Frutos, Alexandre Alemão, and Álvaro García.
Elche, under Eder Sarabia, opted for a 3-4-3 setup, featuring Matías Dituro in goal, with David Affengruber, Pedro Bigas, and Léo Pétrot at the back. The midfield comprised Aboubacar Sangaré, Marc Aguado, Aleix Febas, and Teté Morente, while Germán Valera, Alvaro Rodriguez, and Rafael Mir formed the attacking trio.
José Munuera Montero officiated the game, and with this result, Rayo Vallecano climbed to 12th in the league standings with 35 points, while Elche remains in 17th place with 29 points.
Looking ahead, Rayo Vallecano will travel to face Mallorca, and Elche will host Valencia in their next matches.
Substitutions for Rayo Vallecano
- 65’ – Óscar Valentín off for Randy Nteka
- 65’ – Isaac Palazón off for Pedro Díaz
- 83’ – Álvaro García off for Luis Alfonso Espino
- 92’ – Andrei Ratiu off for Carlos Martín
Substitutions for Elche
- 45’ – Rafael Mir off for Adriá Pedrosa
- 76’ – Alvaro Rodriguez off for André Silva
- 76’ – Marc Aguado off for Federico Redondo
- 76’ – Aleix Febas off for Gonzalo Villar
- 82’ – Aboubacar Sangaré off for Yago Santiago
- 82’ – Alexandre Alemão off for Sergio Camello
Yellow Cards for Elche
- 22’ – Pedro Bigas (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 44’ – Rafael Mir (Unsporting behavior)
- 62’ – Alvaro Rodriguez (Unsporting behavior)
Red Card for Elche
- 39’ – Pedro Bigas (Red card for two yellow cards)