Memories of Montilivi: “El Rayo has given us license to dream”

Montilivi is not another place for rayism. This stadium embodies faith, struggle and the achievement of the impossible. That was the scene of the comeback that gave the Vallecanos their last promotion to First – the eighth in their history – on June 20, 2021. The franjirrojos had fallen by 1-2 in the first leg and they played everything for everything at Girona’s home. Álvaro took six minutes to launch the first blow to the opponent’s jaw, picking up a long pass and defining perfectly against Juan Carlos. On the edge of rest, Trejo rounded the machado, sneaking a ball under the goalkeeper. Although the epic came with the expulsion of Velázquez in 56 ‘ and the team had to pull ex officio to certify the miracle. Thus was confirmed Iraola’s master plan, whose The approach of a brilliant strategist, embedding Óscar Valentín among the centrals was crucial. For the second consecutive year, again in the promotion, the Catalans were one step away from returning to the elite.

The eighth of the Cup wanted Rayo to return to that symbolic place to face a rival who runs a symbol of the Strip, Míchel. Caprices of Fate … Many rayistas celebrated this pairing with enthusiasm, especially the ‘Peña Rayistas por Catalunya’, the only one that could live in situ that ascent in a playoff where the public could return – yes, with restrictions – to populate the stands after the pandemic. “We tried to contact Girona in case we could get tickets, but got no response. Still we move with the intention of covering the team. We went to greet him so that he could see that he was not going to be alone. It was a pass“, confesses Bruno Brotons, member of La Peña.

That Sunday was long. Intense. Unforgettable. It did not matter that the next day it was time to work. “We were there since half past ten in the morning walking around the city and sightseeing. We met people from Girona and they received us great, taking photos, having beers with us … At 13:30 we had lunch with the ‘Penya Immortal Girona’ and from there to the stadium. Not being able to enter, we tried to watch the game from the outside, but there was a sector of the fans who rebuked us. It was a bit tense because they started throwing rocks at us. We did not care. Girona’s people have always treated us very well“, narrates President Javier Ojeda.

Once a hill was ruled out, that twenty fans had to look for a new location. “We got like on a hill and there only the corner was appreciated. We had to pull mobile phones and radio. We heard screams and we didn’t know why they were“Bruno remembers, laughing. He is one of the members of the ‘Peña Rayistas por Catalunya’, which was born in 2018 —Was conceived in a duel against Barça B at the Mini Estadi— and brings together more than thirty franjirrojos residing in Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, Lleida, Girona … “You live differently. Rayo arouses sympathy in Catalonia, they have shown it to us when we have gone to Cornellà or the Camp Nou. Even down the street“, explains the vocal, also a member of ‘La Resistencia Vallekana’.

After the nerves and the contained tension came the celebration. That explosion of glee with the final whistle. Screams, hugs and a moment … “We sing the ‘Pirate Life’ with the players! Saveljich threw himself against the fence that almost knocked him over. If it had been a cartoon, it would have left its silhouette stamped on the gate “, laughs Javier, who will miss this cup because of some work commitments abroad. There will be about fifteen members of this group, who He usually travels not only to see the male, but also the female. “As the atmosphere was tense, they put us in the parking lot and players like Alberto García and Catena worried about us and took out bottles of water … And Baby is a party. He stood in front of the bus dancing to the music of a loudspeaker “, reveals Bruno, who was left with a thorn in the tooth:”Seeing the celebration at the Assembly Fountain made me envious. “

Now, with the Cup, not only memories are dusted, but also sensations. Mainly, that one that the Lightning is capable of everythingIt was rising against the prognosis, it has been settling in European positions in the League and now he puts eyes on the KO tournament, Iraola’s fetish competition. “The team has given us license to dream. Hopefully we can see the Strip in La Cartuja. It is a real, unique opportunity … “, wishes Bruno, to which Javier adds:” If we could last year with how ugly it painted, how could it not be possible now! We would like Míchel’s Girona to rise, but in the Cup we have to win and have a good day with all the red-and-blue fans that will be traveling. Let’s see if we put together a good one calçotada and we enjoy soccer though the Ray is more than what happens in the field“It is a feeling. The one on June 20 that will beat again in Montilivi on Saturday …