Rayo Vallecano returns to the highest level of Spain after two seasons of absence. On a visit to Girona, a 0-2 win was enough to compensate for last week’s 2-1 home defeat. Rayo finished sixth in the regular competition and settled in a diptych with Almería in the semifinals of the play-offs. Furthermore, Espanyol and Mallorca were already assured of promotion to LaLiga, while Eibar, Valladolid and Huesca were relegated to LaLiga2.
The visitors, where Luca Zidane was under the crossbar, started excellently, as the opening goal was found before the end of the seventh minute. Emiliano Velázquez found lvaro García with a deep pass on the edge of the sixteen-meter area, who played beautifully with the right and found the top left corner: 1-0. The video footage was still viewed for alleged offside, but the goal stood. Then there was an impasse, which was broken only on the stroke of half-time.
Whoops! ?? Very early on it is Girono – Rayo Vallecano and it is the away team that evens things out: 2-2 over two games ??#ZiggoSport #LaLigaPlayoffs #GironaRayo pic.twitter.com/eOadJeyVlI
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) June 20, 2021
First it was Arnau Martínez who, on behalf of Girona, got the ball in front of his feet after a carom in a promising position, but it lacked accuracy in the completion. A minute later Rayo was accurate. From the left wing, García cut into the box and put the ball back on the completely released Óscar Trejo. The attacker was able to take on the edge of the five-meter area and he shot through the leg of goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martín: 2-0. It was only the first time since April 2017 that Girona conceded two goals at home before half-time. Rayo was also the opponent at the time.
Rayo on promotion rate? The visitors double their lead and will be La Liga participants next season…#ZiggoSport #LaLigaPlayoffs #GironaRayo pic.twitter.com/UJ5LdDQlVq
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) June 20, 2021
More than ten minutes after the break, Girona’s hopes for a good end result received a major boost. In midfield, Arbiter Javier Iglesias Villanueva thought he had seen a foul by Velázquez, which resulted in the defender being shown his second yellow card. The images showed that there was no foul, but as it was a second yellow (and not a direct red) card, the decision could no longer be corrected by the video referee. For the remainder of the game, the Madrilenians parked the bus and Girona was unable to get through the crowds.
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