On 21 August one of the matches of the 2nd round of the Spanish football championship took place. Granada (Spain) and Rayo Vallecano (Spain) met.
Spanish Championship, 2nd round
Granada (Spain) - Rayo Vallecano (Spain) - 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Alvaro Garcia (75), Ismaila Siss (79).
Warnings: Gerard Gambo (50), Hernandez (50).
Granada and Rayo Vallecano recently met at the Nuevo Los Carmenes Stadium in La Liga, ending in a 0-2 victory for Rayo Vallecano. Despite the 0-0 scoreline, Rayo Vallecano managed to turn the tide in the second half and secure a comfortable victory. At the start of the match, both teams showed a desire to dominate and control the game. In the 11th minute, Granada's R. Sanchez received a yellow card, which shows the intensity of the game. The first half continued, both teams created several chances, but failed to realise them. In the 50th minute the referee showed two yellow cards - one to A. Hernandez of Rayo Vallecano and the other to G. Gumbau of Granada. This emphasised the physical nature of the match and the players' desire to win. On 62 minutes Granada made a substitution: J. Callejon came on in place of A. Puertas. Rayo Vallecano also made two quick substitutions in the 66th minute: R. Ntek replaced R. de Toma. Nteka replaced R. de Tomas and O. Trejo came on in place of J. de Frutos. These substitutions brought fresh energy to both teams and gave the match a new dynamic. In the 75th minute, Rayo Vallecano finally found the long-awaited break.
A. Garcia scored a goal, putting the team in the lead. Then followed the third substitution in the line-up of Rayo Vallecano: U. Lopez replaced P. Cisse in the 76th minute. In the 79th minute, Rayo Vallecano sealed their victory when P. Cisse scored to increase their lead to 2-0. Granada responded with two substitutions: in the 80th minute, G. Villar replaced G. Gumbau and O. Melendo replaced F. Didiu. Granada's hopes of returning to winning ways were undermined in the 86th minute when A. Puertas received a red card, reducing the squad to ten men. Rayo Vallecano took advantage and made two late substitutions. F. Lejeune replaced A. Mumin in the 88th minute, while A. Garcia came on in place of Bebe. Granada tried to save the match by making a last substitution in the 90th minute. S. Ruiz came on in place of N. Petrovic, and A. Perea replaced R. Sanchez. However, these substitutions could not change the course of the match, and it ended with the score 0:2 in favour of Rayo Vallecano. The game demonstrated the competitive spirit and physical power of La Liga football. Rayo Vallecano players won a deserved victory. Granada will have to regroup and analyse their game to get back on track.
In the next round the following matches await the rivals: Granada - Mallorca, Rayo Vallecano - Atletico.
| Granada | Rayo Vallecano | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Kicks to the goal | 9 |
| 13 | Hits | 17 |
| 1 | Blocked shots | 2 |
| 9 | Penalty kicks | 11 |
| 4 | Kicks from outside the penalty box | 6 |
| 14 | Offences | 11 |
| 5 | Corner | 6 |
| 1 | Offsides | 7 |
| 49% | Ball possession | 51% |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 1 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
| 7 | Keeper saves | 7 |
| 361 | Total assists | 382 |
| 277 | Accurate assists | 299 |
| 77% | Accuracy of passes | 78% |