After qualifying for their first-ever European final last week, Rayo’s confidence was as high as the clear skies over the Spanish capital, and Inigo Perez’s side certainly didn’t waste that momentum, as they attempted to pile further pressure on their relegation-threatened visitors.
Despite being inactive for the UEFA Conference League final against Crystal Palace later this month, Fran Perez was determined to make an impact, signalling his intent as the hosts’ stand-out attacking protagonist within the opening quarter-hour of play at Estadio de Vallecas.
That trend continued throughout the next 15 minutes, as a visibly invigorated Perez fired narrowly off target, before another dangerous delivery from the Spaniard found the head of Sergio Camello. However, Perez’s fellow countryman narrowly missed the target with his aerial effort.
That said, Girona came close to breaking the deadlock with their first goalscoring opportunity of the match, when Viktor Tsygankov fired into Augusto Batalla’s arms after 38’.
There was still time for Camello’s 45th-minute effort, which forced Paulo Gazzaniga into a stunning one-handed save that kept the game goalless heading into half-time.
Having conceded a divisional-high 14 goals throughout the first 15 minutes of the second half this season, Girona decided their best form of defence was to attack.
Nevertheless, it didn’t initially work out very well as Tsygankov volleyed high into the stands when, at the very least, he should have hit the target.
Regardless of that, Michel's plan for his side appeared to have been perfectly implemented as referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernández pointed to the spot after 56’ after Pathé Ciss appeared to handle Alex Moreno’s pass.
Unfortunately, Moreno and the visitors were left fuming, as the man in the middle reversed his decision following a second look at the on-pitch monitor.
It took a while, but Rayo were back on the attack with 76’ gone as Florian Lejeune’s fierce free-kick was smartly stopped at his near post by Gazzaniga.
However, there was nothing the former Tottenham Hotspur number one could do to prevent the hosts from finally celebrating the game’s opening goal after 86’ as Alemao stuck out a boot to instinctively direct his teammate’s shot into the back of the net. Ultimately, it was a tale of two substitutes, as Cristhian Stuani headed home Tsygankov’s delivery four minutes later to send the visiting bench into wild celebrations.
Girona’s late equaliser means that Rayo were unable to leapfrog Real Sociedad into the UEFA Europa League qualification spot – though a UEFA Conference League final win over Crystal Palace would render the results from their remaining league games irrelevant.
Meanwhile, Girona’s three-season stay in LaLiga remains up in the air, with the Blanquivermells sitting only two points above the drop zone with just 180 minutes of league action left to play.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Unai Lopez (Rayo Vallecano)
