First Division - Day 38

Rayo Vallecano 3 - Levante 1

Rayo: Yoel; Quini, Amaya, Tito, Nacho (Rat 88‘); Diego Llorente (Miku 46’), Trashorras; Pablo Hernández, Jozabed, Embarba (Bebé 59’); Javi Guerra. 4-2-3-1.
Levante: Diego Mariño; Iván López, Medjani, David Navarro, Juanfran (Toño 37’); Simao, Verza; Xumetra (Morales 75‘), Jefferson Lerma, Rubén García; Víctor Casadesús (Deyverson 58’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 12. Pablo Hernández. Hooked shot back past after corner came out to him.
2-0. 23. Jozabed. Deflected Trashorras shot from outside of area past keeper.
2-1. 60. Verza (penalty). After Amaya pulled down Rubén García inside the area.
3-1. 73. Miku. Turned ball in on far post after Javi Guerra played on Bebé cross.

Yellow cards: Amaya 59’, David Navarro 63’, Deyverson 82’, Verza 89’.

Rayo Vallecano have been relegated to the second division, and although they beat the already relegated Levante 3-1 in their last game, their efforts were all in vain. Pablo Hernández gave them the lead in the twelfth minute, turning a shot back past Diego Mariño after a Trashorras corner was headed clear, and Jozabed made it two without knowing too much about it, a Trashorras shot hitting him on the backside to wrong-foot the keeper. The locals had two or three chances to increase the lead, in particular a shot from Javi Guerra just wide of the post, but with an hour on the clock Verza got one back from the penalty spot after Amaya pulled down Rubén García in the area. A few minutes later Miku wrapped up the win after Guerra failed to turn in Bebé’s cross, but they still ended the day a point below Sporting Gijón in the table. The defeat the week before at Real Sociedad had condemned them to the drop after five years at the top, but their fans remained steadfastly in the stadium well after the final whistle until the players came back out of the dressing room to acknowledge their applause. They’ll be back!