Sitting above Sevilla in the LL standings after 11 rounds for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign, Rayo began assertively, as Marko Dmitrović had to be on his toes to reroute Isi Palazón’s audacious long-range strike around the post. However, hoping to extend their unbeaten top-flight H2H record to 14 matches, the hosts were forced to be patient in the face of a disciplined opening quarter-hour from Andoni Iraola’s visitors from the capital.
Without a victory in five at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to start the home league season, for only the second time in the club’s 132-year history, Sevilla were once again indebted to Dmitrović’s goalkeeping instincts, as the commanding Serbian prevented Sergio Camello from taking full advantage of Ivan Rakitić’s needless loss of possession.
On the back of a strong 1-1 draw with Atlético de Madrid in their last trip, Rayo continued where they left off at the commencement of the second half, as Unai López’s crisply-struck strike stung the palms of Dmitrović. Looking over their shoulder at the Halloween-esque figure of the LL relegation zone, Sevilla should have been ahead, only for Rafa Mir to hit the side netting after Stole Dimitrievski had presented the HT substitute with the opportunity of another effort on goal.
However, moments after the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán had expected the back of the net to ripple, Álvaro García ruthlessly punished Mir and Sevilla, clinically cutting inside Gonzalo Montiel before firing past Dmitrović. Despite García missing a glorious opportunity to double this tally for the evening and, in turn, secure all three points for his side, as Rayo remained in control to extend their unbeaten league record to four matches.
In contrast, Sevilla continue to hand their supporters tricks, not treats, at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in the current campaign. An upturn in fortunes is needed immediately, with a likely consequence of failing to do so being a once-unthinkable bottom-three berth during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano)
