Rayo Vallecano earn breathing room for European push against 10-man Elche

Rayo Vallecano earn breathing room for European push against 10-man Elche Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Elche Rayo Vallecano gave themselves the breathing room they wanted to enjoy their Conference League clash against AEK Athens on Thursday , after downing ten-man Elche at Vallecas. Los Franjiverdes had little to show for their efforts in something of an arm wrestle. The significance of the game was visible in the Elche players early on, as they nervously defended some relatively prosaic attacks from Rayo Vallecano in the opening stages.

Rarely do Rayo face a team of comparable resources so intent on dominating the ball, and it meant that both teams remained extremely vigilant of transitions, taking the safe pass more often than not. As the game moved towards the half hour mark, the home side began to find more spaces in midfield though, with Unai Lopez working Matias Dituro for the first time in earnest. Minutes earlier, Florian Lejuene headed the clearest opening over from a corner.

Dituro became overly anxious to get involved thereafter, rushing out to the edge of his box to be rounded by Alvaro Garcia. Against the angle, Garcia beat Dituro twice more in the box, as Elche defenders rushed to close down his options, and eventually blocked his effort off the line. That could have been described as a good effort, but moments after he wished for the same composure.

After a lovely pass by Andrei Ratiu, this time he blazed over from the inside left channel. Firmly on the back foot now, from nowhere Elche almost responded with the opener. A teasing ball through the corridor of uncertainty by Buba Sangare caught out Rafa Mir at the back post too, who was inches away from connecting with it.