El Rayo has returned to work this Tuesday with the batteries charged. The tie (1-1) against Sevilla has been an injection of morale for the red-and-white squad, which thus breaks its poor dynamic of results and takes one more step towards the long-awaited permanence. He already has 32 points. What’s more, scoring seven days later, makes the Vallecano team face the next duel against Atlético with more desire and optimism.
Iraola recovers troops to receive the rojiblancos. The Basque coach will be able to count on his two starting wingers on Saturday, Álvaro García and Isi Palazón, once the cycle has already been completed before the people of Seville. Furthermore, Mr. closely follows the progress of its injured players (Merquelanz, Unai López, Falcao and Saveljich) and it would not be unreasonable for several of them to arrive to the derby Without a doubt, another good news for Andoni.
Nevertheless, some of the novelties in the eleven of the last day have given good performance and claim a place in eleven. This was the case with Dimitrievski, who on his return to the starting lineup after missing three league games and one cup game, ended up becoming the hero against Sevilla by flying in to stop a volley from Martial and a header from Delaney in the final moments. Baby also met expectations and opened the scoring with a house-brand goal. His first league goal and the second of the course, after the spectacular lack of Villamarín in the Cup. The Sevillian rivals have become their perfect victims this 21-22.
Rayo faces this match of the second round with many more troops than they had in the first. The redheads opened the new year at the Wanda Metropolitano and after facing an outbreak of COVID, which came to have the meeting in the air. Iraola —one of the positives during those Christmas holidays— lost up to 17 first team players and some arrived at the appointment with great difficulty, that is, without having been able to train. Hence, now the Vallecanos look at Atlético with renewed illusions…