Real: Rulli; Aritz Elustondo (Chory Castro 78‘), Ansotegi, Iñigo Martínez, De la Bella; Bergara (Rubén Pardo 53‘), Granero (Finnbogason 84‘); Carlos Vela, Xabi Prieto, Canales; Agirretxe. 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Toño; Tito (Quini 46‘), Zé Castro, Abdoulaye Ba, Insúa; Raúl Baena, Trashorras; Javier Aquino (Alex Moreno 60’); Alberto Bueno (Jozabed 78‘), Kakuta; Manucho. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 81. Manucho. Steered header in off far post from Trashorras corner.
Yellow cards: Manucho 65’, Trashorras 74’, Quini 77’, Abdoulaye 87’.
Rayo Vallecano moved up into the top half of the table after they beat Real Sociedad 0-1 on Saturday evening. The Basque side had the better of the first half, Carlos Vela seeing a shot deflected wide by a defender, and Toño having to save a couple of times from Agirretxe. Zé Castro went close at the other end however, and Manucho misread a short pass which he should have turned into the net shortly before the break. Agirretxe turned a shot over the top after the restart, and Alex Moreno tested Rulli again, but with ten minutes to go Rayo were awarded a hotly contested corner, and Manucho got above his markers to head Trashorras’ kick into the far bottom corner of the net. It was another defeat for David Moyes’ side, and they ended the day just three points above the relegation spots, albeit that they stay ahead of eternal rivals Athletic on goal difference.