The absence of Fran García in Rayo’s eleven against Valencia set off all the alarms. The initial uncertainty due to his last-minute discharge gave way to the reason, some muscle discomfort. And it is that the left side is one of the fixed for Iraola. To the extent that it is the Third player with the most minutes in the red-and-white squad (2,413) in the League, only behind Baiilu (2,610) and Catena (2,520). All of them, the backbone of the defense.
“Fran suffers an injury that does not seem very seriousbut we are with very fair times in the following games (Alavés, Espanyol and Barcelona) and I don’t know when we will be able to have it back“Iraola explained at a press conference. The presence of the defender is up in the air now that the team has to face three appointments in just eight dayswith the added difficulty that all of them are held far from Vallecas.
This Saturday the redheads visit Mendizorroza (16:15)next Thursday they will go to Cornellà (7:00 p.m.) and that Sunday they will face the postponed match at the Camp Nou (9:00 p.m.), corresponding to matchday 21. A marathon away from home, where Rayo has not added more than six points so far in the championship, which makes him the worst visitor of First along with Levante and Alavés. And although Fran is doubtful a priori, if there is a player capable of shortening recovery times, it is the full-back… Last year he overcame a partial rupture of the cruciate ligament in his right knee in just 19 days.