RAYO VALLECANO NEWS

Alvaro Garcia - Registers six shots Garcia recorded six shots (three on goal), three crosses (two accurate) and four chances created in Saturday's 0-0 draw versus Mallorca.

Impact Garcia failed to earn a goal contribution but still was solid throughout the season finale, notching three crosses, four chances created and six shots. However, he does end the season goalless in his final three games. He ends the season with four goals on 71 shots and five assists on 50 chances created in 36 appearances.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Isi Palazon - Workhorse in season finale Palazon had six shots (one on goal), 11 crosses (four accurate) and nine corners in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Mallorca.

Impact Palazon was all over the field Saturday and would be the heart of the Rayo team despite their goalless draw, notching four chances created, six shots and 11 crosses. This was one of his better matches of the season, as it was a season-high for shots in a match while also tying his match-high for crosses. He was able to elevate his performance from last season, but is nowhere near his 2022/23 form, only seeing eight goal contributions in 35 appearances compared to his 14 in 37 appearances that campaign.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Augusto Batalla - Two saves lead to clean sheet Batalla recorded two saves and secured a clean sheet in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Mallorca.

Impact Batalla would only face two shots on target Saturday and would stop both to earn a clean sheet. This marks his first clean sheet in two outings and his eighth of the season. This brings the goalie to eight clean sheets, 39 goals allowed and 95 saves in his 32 appearances this season.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Oscar Valentin - Suspension cleared Valentin is no longer suspended and will be available for the first gameday next season. He featured in 34 games during the 2024-25 season for Rayo Vallecano.

Impact Valentin has cleared his ban due to yellow card accumulation and is set to return for the first gameday of the 2025-26 season. The midfielder appeared in the same number of games as in the last two seasons with Rayo Vallecano even though he seemed to have lost his starting role during the campaign. He recorded more than 2,500 minutes in his first three seasons with Rayo Vallecano while he played only 1,830 minutes this season. He still has two years left on his contract and should remain a key player in the roster for the next campaign.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lewandowski strikes twice for champion Barcelona but can't catch Mbappé for scoring title

Barcelona has capped its title-winning campaign with a 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice but falling short of catching Kylian Mbappé as the Spani...

6 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aridane Hernandez - Starts against Mallorca Adriane (undisclosed) is in the starting XI for Saturday's match against Mallorca.

Impact Adriane is fit once again after his absence from their last contest, with the defender earning a spot in the starting XI immediately. This is his fourth start in their past five games, starting in 12 of his 15 appearances this season after mainly going unsed to start the campaign.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Aridane Hernandez - Fit for season finale Adriane (undisclosed) is an option for Saturday's match against Mallorca, according to manager Inigo Perez. "No, Aridane is available, and the rest of the casualties are the ones w...

Impact Adriane is fit once again and will be an option Saturday, returning from his undisclosed injury for their season finale. This is good news for the club, as he is a regular starter when fit. That said, he will look to return to his starting role immediately against Mallorca.

MAY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Jorge De Frutos - Scores game-winning goal De Frutos scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal) in Sunday's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Impact De Frutos found the back of the net late in the first half following a set-up from Florian Lejeune, and the winger coolly slotted the ball past Vicente Guaita with a composed finish. This was De Frutos' sixth goal of the season, but he's ending the campaign on a solid run after finding the back of the net in his last two appearances.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Lejeune - Credited with assist Lejeune assisted once to go with one shot (zero on goal), one cross (one accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo. In addition, he was given a ye...

Impact Lejeune was credited with the assist in the game-winning goal with a perfect through ball that found Jorge De Frutos, and the winger capped it off with a great finish past Vicente Guaita. Lejeune has been productive despite his center-back role, and even though most of his value comes from what he can do as a defender, he also has two goals and three assists on the season.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Alfonso Espino - Assists in win over Celta Espino assisted once to go with two crosses (one accurate) and two chances created in Sunday's 2-1 victory versus Celta Vigo.

Impact Espino set up Rayo Vallecano's first goal with a perfect cross that was nodded home by Isi Palazon. Espino is a solid two-way contributor for Rayo from his left-back role, but he hasn't started regularly, and his contributions don't show up on the scoresheet often. This was his first assist of the season.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Isi Palazon - Nets unstoppable header Palazon scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal), three crosses (zero accurate) and two corners in Sunday's 2-1 win against Celta Vigo.

Impact Palazon evened things up for Rayo Vallecano in the 17th minute with a powerful header following a cross from Pacha Espino, but perhaps the most surprising aspect of the goal was that he won the aerial battle against a far taller player such as Marcos Alonso. Palazon returned to the starting lineup five games ago and has been excellent for Rayo, tallying one goal, one assist, 12 shots, 13 chances created, 26 crosses and 22 corners over that stretch.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Augusto Batalla - Concedes from PK spot Batalla made five saves and allowed one goal in Sunday's 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo.

Impact There wasn't much Batalla could've done on the lone goal he conceded, as most of the credit should go to Alonso's perfect Panenka-style penalty. The veteran goalkeeper responded the rest of the way, though, and his five saves were key to lifting Rayo to victory. Batalla should remain in the XI for the regular-season finale against Mallorca on Saturday.

MAY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Aridane Hernandez - Ruled out Sunday Aridane (undisclosed) was ruled out of Sunday's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo after picking up an injury during the final training session, according to Union Rayo.

Impact Aridane suffered discomfort in the final training session before Sunday's clash against Vigo and was ultimately ruled out for the match. He will be assessed in the coming days to determine if he can play in the final game of the season against Mallorca on Saturday. If not, Pelayo Fernandez could be a likely replacement.

MAY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Oscar Valentin - Will miss season finale Valentin will miss the season finale against Mallorca on Saturday due to an accumulation of five yellow cards in the league, resulting in a one-match ban.

Impact Valentin has accumulated five yellow cards in La Liga and will be suspended for the final game of the season against Mallorca on Saturday. Unai Lopez is expected to get a larger role in the midfield for that game.

MAY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Villarreal dampens Barcelona's title celebrations. Mbappé scores again for Madrid

Villarreal has dampened Barcelona’s title celebrations by handing the Catalan club its first defeat of 2025 in the Spanish league

MAY 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jorge De Frutos - Scores in draw with Betis De Frutos scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Thursday's 2-2 draw against Betis.

Impact De Frutos caught a ball that bounced off the crossbar in the 37th minute to score the first goal of this match. Other than that, he won three of his five duels and was fouled twice before being replaced by Unai Lopez during the second half. The attacker ended a 14-game scoreless streak and raised his 2024/25 total to five goals in 34 appearances. He was deployed at center-forward with his usual right-wing slot taken by Andrei Ratiu, but it remains to be seen if that will be a permanent change.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Isi Palazon - Delivers 11 crosses in draw Palazon had two shots (zero on goal), 11 crosses (six accurate) and eight corners in Thursday's 2-2 draw against Betis.

Impact Palazon excelled as a playmaker while taking the most set pieces on the squad during Thursday's game. He's in good form in the final stretch of the season, having produced multiple shots, crosses and chances created in four consecutive 90-minute performances. However, in terms of direct contributions, he has scored no goals and only one assist over that period.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Andrei Ratiu - Active on right wing in draw Ratiu had three crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Thursday's 2-2 draw versus Betis.

Impact Ratiu had an unimpressive display, but his statistical output was quite varied including passing and defensive actions against Betis. After being a consistent full-back throughout the campaign, Ratiu has been moved to the attacking midfield line as a right winger in the last two games, increasing his offensive value. He'll aim to add to his totals of two goals and three assists in 33 matches played, especially if he remains in an advanced position going forward.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Lejeune - Scores goal against Betis Lejeune scored one goal to go with four shots (two on goal) in Thursday's 2-2 draw against Betis.

Impact Lejeune doubled his team's lead from a free kick during first-half stoppage time in the draw. He complemented that effort with a season-high seven interceptions, though he also committed the penalty that led to the opponents' equalizer. The goal was his second of the current season, with both of those contributions coming in the last month. Despite playing a highly defensive role, he could have a chance to increase his scoring tally as long as he continues to take direct set pieces.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Augusto Batalla - Allows two goals to Betis Batalla made one save and allowed two goals in Thursday's 2-2 draw against Betis.

Impact Batalla was beaten by a penalty kick and a low shot as the hosts failed to hold a two-goal lead in the midweek game. Even though he recorded a clean sheet on May 9 against Las Palmas, the keeper made less than three saves in each of his previous five games played. He'll look to get back on track Sunday in a difficult test versus Celta Vigo, who scored five goals over their latest three matches.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE