A Granada-Rayo, with the Tamudazo in the memory… and as a threat

Every time the paths of Rayo and Granada converge, old memories emanate, although one stands out above the rest. There is barely a month and a half to go until a decade has passed since one of the most important games in the history of the Strip and one of its most celebrated goals in Vallecas, the one baptized as ‘Tamudazo’. There, on May 13, 2012, the faces of the redheads and the Nasrids were seen on the last day of the League and the locals only needed victory to seal permanence. something that came in extremisby the work and grace of Tamudo, and after having virtually traveled through Second for 33 minutes.

That victory for Rayo (1-0, in 91′) served for both contenders to extend their stay in the top category for one more year and caused the fall of Villarreal, thanks also to another unexpected hero. The then-athletic Falcao —today a red-haired star, ironies of fate— sank the Submarine (0-1) to Second. On this occasion, the Vallecanos visit Los Cármenes with 32 points and ten games to go, but immersed in a losing streak that seems endless. Those of Iraola chain ten days without winningwith a record of two draws and eight losses, three goals for and 16 against.

Some numbers that resemble those of the second round of that ‘Matagigantes’ of 77-78. That Rayo also had ten games without winning, with five draws and five losses, which took him from third place —in the middle of the championship— to tenth at the end of the course. A fall similar to that experienced by Iraola, who said goodbye to 2021 in fourth place and is now in thirteenth. However, this is not the worst streak of the Strip in First. In the 02-03 season, he spent thirteen days without savoring a victory (seven draws and six defeats) and in 92-93 there were twelve (seven draws and five losses), both holding the record.

Although the objective of permanence seems quite on track this time, the people of Madrid want to avoid unnecessary scares and not have to face the last appointment of the course – they receive Levante in Vallecas – with pending tasks. The priority goes through not repeating a new ‘Tamudazo’. At this stage, in that 11-12, those of Sandoval added five points more (37) than the current Rayo and they achieved salvation with two wins in the last ten dates (Osasuna and Granada). The redheads are still waiting to visit Granada, Alavés, Espanyol, Barcelona, ​​Getafe and Mallorca and receive Valencia, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Levante.