Rayo Vallecano (1) 1 - Molde (0) 1

Rayo: Keller; Alcázar, De Quintana, Ballesteros, Mingo, Setvalls (Pablo Sanz 77'); Quevedo (Glaucio 70'), Helder, Poschner, Michel, Bolo (Bartelt 60'). 5-3-2.

Goals:
1-0. 40. Michel (penalty). After foul on Bolo in penalty area.
1-1. 73. Hulsker. Picked up ball in possible offside position and beat Keller.

Rayo Vallecano kept up their excellent run in their first ever season in Europe, beating Molde 2-1 on aggregate on a rainy night in Madrid, although they were taken close at the end when they took their foot off the accelerator. With Keller returning in goal and defender Setvalls playing on the left of midfield, Rayo were prepared to defend against a Molde team who had to score goals after losing the first leg 0-1. However Rayo didn't just sit back and wait, their manager Juande Ramos deciding that the safest tactic was to get an early goal or two to have a safer margin.

Poschner and Quevedo directed the orchestra in midfield with Michel playing lead violin as they created four or five chances in the first quarter of an hour, with Hoseth clearing off the line from Helder and Bakke saving shots from the midfield duo. However they nearly gave away a goal to Olsen, and after that they decided to play it safer. Bolo continued up front though, and a couple of minutes after heading over he was fouled in the area and the Slovakian referee Vladimir Hrinak gave a penalty. Bolo, still limping from the tackle, handed the ball over to Michel who put his team ahead from the penalty spot.

Ramos brought on Bartelt and Glaucio in the second half, already thinking of their weekend match against Celta, but neither made any impression. Keller saved from Hulsker as Molde came out looking for the equaliser, and then a defensive error let the centre forward through. Rayo looked to the linesman for a possible offside, but the flag stayed down and Hulsker ran on to score. After that the disappointing 7,000 crowd urged on their players and they closed ranks to see the game out, although there was relief all round once it was over. Rayo go back to the North of Europe for their next match against Viborg, the Danish cup winners, with the first leg in Madrid.