Rayo Vallecano's first win of the new La Liga season came on Sunday night as they defeated Las Palmas 1-0 on the road.

The hosts may have started the game the better of the two, but it was Rayo who took a slender lead in at the break, opening the scoring with three minutes of the first half to go as Javi Guerra prodded the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper with a cute finish.

This ultimately proved to be the game's decisive goal, with Las Palmas unable to muster up much in the second half as the visitors defended well and were able to move forward with the ball, not allowing their opponents to apply any heavy pressure.

Rayo, therefore, recorded their first win of the season to climb off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone, whereas the home side now sit in 16th with two points from four games.

Team news

With neither team coming into the game off the back of a win, it was no surprise to see changes to both sides on Sunday night.

The hosts were forced to change their goalkeeper for one, with Javi Varas sent off last time out against Celta Vigo, meaning Raul Lizoain stepped in to deputise.

Las Palmas also set up more defensively in a 5-3-2 formation, as opposed to the 4-4-2 against Celta which saw them concede three goals in a 3-3 draw. The team had conceded just one goal in their previous two games combined with a back five, so the change was understandable, and so, to make way for this tactical alteration, attacker Willian Jose was replaced by defender Aythami Artiles.

As for the visitors, they also had a goalkeeping decision to make, with Tono returning from suspension. However, they too opted to change, meaning Juan Carlos dropped to the bench for the man who was sent off against Celta.

Another change concerning the back line, which conceded three in a defeat to Deportivo La Coruna last weekend, saw Razvan Rat replace Quini, whilst Bebe came in for the suspended Patrick Ebert in midfield.

Even start with chances for both

Both sides looked up to the task from kick off, both lively at each end without creating much. Javi Guerra tried to catch Raul Lizoain out with seven minutes gone, the goalkeeper having raced off his line to head a ball over the top clear, but Varas' replacement was able to get back in his goal and comfortably save the effort from distance.

At the other end, Jonathan Viera came the closest for Las Palmas in the early exchanges, his free-kick from the left just fizzing over the bar, whilst Adri Embarba headed over the bar for Rayo inside the opening 20 minutes.

Still, David Simon was proving to be a great outlet for the hosts down the right wing, bombing on from full-back, and was integral to Las Palmas' purple patches, drilling in a pacey cross at the half's midway point, looking for Viera, but the attacker couldn't control his header as it cleared the crossbar.

Viera then had the best chance of the game thus far just short of the half hour mark, his strike partner Sergio Araujo teeing him up in the area, but the Spaniard blazed his shot over the bar from 10 yards out, when he really should have scored.

Las Palmas begin to take over, but Rayo take the all important lead

This sparked Las Palmas into life, with Roque Mesa going on a mazy run two minutes later, leaving Antonio Amaya for dead as he drove a low effort towards the far corner of Tono's goal from 20 yards, but the 'keeper managed to scoop it away from danger with a rather unorthodox save.

Dani Castellano had a half chance moments later too, Simon again the provider as his cross was headed into the ground and bounced up into Tono's hands, whilst Viera broke free through the middle towards the end of the half, but could only blast his shot over the bar from the edge of the box as his marker applied the pressure.

However, unable to take their chances, Las Palmas were punished less than five minutes before the break as Javi Guerra put Rayo into a narrow lead. Roberto Trashorras' clever little nod on put his striker through on goal, and the Spaniard did the rest, making up for a poor first touch by lifting the ball over the onrushing Raul Lizoain on the stretch with a neat finish.

The visitors took this slender advantage in at half time, with Las Palmas completely dumfounded as to how they were behind after such a good first half. Nonetheless, they would need to step it up after the break, especially in terms of their composure in front of goal.

Lacklustre response from the hosts results in three points for the visitors

Las Palmas would start the second half on the front foot, with Roque and Simon striking wide of the mark, though both may have had better options available.

However, Rayo let their opponents know that they were not settling for the one goal, Javi Guerra's near post flick clearing the bar whilst Bebe's rocket from distance was hardly far off surprising goalkeeper Raul Lizoain in the home goal.

With the game entering a lacklustre spell, particularly for the game-chasing hosts, as we passed the hour mark, Paco Hererra opted for a double change, bringing on Nabil El Zhar and Wakaso Mubarak for Emmanuel Culio and Hernan respectively.

Yet, the next moment of note was a chance that fell to Rayo and one of their own substitutes, with Jozabed racing in behind the home defence. However, he was unable to make a good connection with the ball as he struck it goalwards, scuffing a tame shot into the arms of the goalkeeper as a result to spoil a golden opportunity to make it two.

Las Palmas struggled to really apply the pressure to their opponents as the half went on, with Rayo capable of playing out of their own half and posing a threat going forward themselves. They looked more likely to extend their lead than surrender it, even in the final few minutes and stoppage time, with the hosts lacking any real inspiration on the attack.

The game would eventually come to a lethargic end for Las Palmas, with Rayo comfortable seeing it out to record their first win of the new season in a much improved performance from last weekend's defeat.

The home side, however, will be frustrated to have lost the game in the manner that they did, especially after showing so much fight last time out.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]